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Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: February 8, 2010
Sen. Debbe Leftwich
Senator Leftwich Continues Push for Ethics
Legislation
State Sen. Debbe
Leftwich said Monday she would continue to push for legislation
that would prohibit any former lawmaker or other elected official
from becoming a lobbyist for two years after leaving office. Her
legislation, Senate Bill 847, was filed last session, but was not
heard in committee. The Senate deadline for committee action this
session is February 18.
“Under current law, an elected official can’t leave
office and work for the state or do a job that is funded with state
dollars for two years,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. “For
years, I’ve pushed to extend that concept to include a two-year
moratorium on elected officials leaving office to become lobbyists.”
Leftwich originally filed legislation creating a two-year moratorium
back in 2005. The bill was assigned to the Judiciary Committee,
but wasn’t given a hearing. She filed similar legislation
in 2007, and that bill languished in the Rules Committee. Currently,
SB 847 is in Rules where it was assigned last year.
“There is still time for the bill to be heard. It’s
simply a matter of whether there’s a political will to hear
this legislation,” Leftwich said. “Perception is everything.
I think it just looks wrong when someone leaves in November and
is back out here within a few months lobbying their former colleagues.
I believe my legislation would increase the public’s confidence
and trust in the fact that current members are looking out for their
districts—not on the look-out for future lobbying jobs.
For more information contact:
Sen. Leftwich: 405-521-5557
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