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Rules for Officials "Dating" Lobbyists
Friday, November 11th, 2011
Robert Wechsler
“The concern with potential corruption does not stop just because
the relationship has entered the bedroom.’’
For those of you who think my blog needs a little spice, this is a good ice breaker. These are the words of Kathay Feng, head of California Common Cause, spoken at a meeting of the Fair Political Practices Commission, California's state ethics commission, which has jurisdiction over local officials and employees (quoted from yesterday's PolitiCal column in the Los Angeles Times). The issue was a proposal to allow officials in a “dating relationship’’ with a lobbyist to accept and not disclose “personal benefits commonly exchanged between people on a date or in a dating relationship.’’
The commission is concerned about privacy. Common Cause is concerned about disclosure. I agree with Common Cause. Dating is a special relationship, and conflicts are all about special relationships. Disclosure is important when there is a special relationship, especially one that is defined only by the two people involved (and don't forget about triangles). Since there is no exclusion of multiple dating relationships, what is to stop a not especially clever single lobbyist from "dating" numerous officials, of both genders? Talk about undermining the public trust.
It sometimes appears that even government ethics professionals lose track of what government ethics is for, that is, obtaining and maintaining the public's trust in government.
And individuals who hold a public office, work for government, or lobby a governmental body or agency have limited privacy rights when it comes to interactions between them. They know this when they take these jobs, and if they choose to date, they simply have to accept that it's not like going out with someone who does not have special obligations to the public.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
203-859-1959
For those of you who think my blog needs a little spice, this is a good ice breaker. These are the words of Kathay Feng, head of California Common Cause, spoken at a meeting of the Fair Political Practices Commission, California's state ethics commission, which has jurisdiction over local officials and employees (quoted from yesterday's PolitiCal column in the Los Angeles Times). The issue was a proposal to allow officials in a “dating relationship’’ with a lobbyist to accept and not disclose “personal benefits commonly exchanged between people on a date or in a dating relationship.’’
The commission is concerned about privacy. Common Cause is concerned about disclosure. I agree with Common Cause. Dating is a special relationship, and conflicts are all about special relationships. Disclosure is important when there is a special relationship, especially one that is defined only by the two people involved (and don't forget about triangles). Since there is no exclusion of multiple dating relationships, what is to stop a not especially clever single lobbyist from "dating" numerous officials, of both genders? Talk about undermining the public trust.
It sometimes appears that even government ethics professionals lose track of what government ethics is for, that is, obtaining and maintaining the public's trust in government.
And individuals who hold a public office, work for government, or lobby a governmental body or agency have limited privacy rights when it comes to interactions between them. They know this when they take these jobs, and if they choose to date, they simply have to accept that it's not like going out with someone who does not have special obligations to the public.
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
203-859-1959
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Comments
Tristin (not verified) says:
Sat, 2011-11-12 16:15
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Unfortunately being in the business of public office is public knowledge. And due to our thriving media coverage personal issues are brought to the publics eye on a regular basis. And any public official who is dating someone other than your "average Joe" has to be aware of scrutiny on all accounts. I guess it's just part of the line of work they choose for themselves.