Cooling off periods

A majority of states and the federal government have “cooling off” periods to prevent ex-officials from immediately peddling their influence as lobbyists.

Nevada has no such law. But that didn’t stop the state Senate from cooling off Tuesday. The Legislature’s upper chamber was downright cold in greeting two bills that would elevate the integrity of public service and ease growing public cynicism about the motivations of politicians.

Assembly Bill 77 would bar state lawmakers from lobbying at the next regular legislative session following their exit from office. Another bill, AB438, extends a one-year cooling-off period for local elected or appointed officials and members of the Nevada Board of Regents to two years.

“I think it does say to the public, and importantly to ourselves, that we should be clear from either the perception or the temptation to use … your last term in office to prepare yourself, ingratiate yourself, to a future employer,” said Minority Leader Pat Hickey, R-Reno, sponsor of AB77.

Sen. Kelvin Atkinson, D-North Las Vegas, wasn’t impressed. “I’m trying to figure out why we’re doing this,” he said. Lawmakers should be allowed to use the “skills” they’ve developed once out of office, and delaying lobbying opportunities does “an injustice in our own state” by limiting the “best and brightest” from participating in the government process, he added.

“These bills do not deny the ‘skills’ that Senator Atkinson champions, but they do attempt in a simple fashion to dissuade those in public power from abusing their advantages and relationships,” said Martin Dean Dupalo, president of the Nevada Center for Public Ethics, who testified on behalf of the legislation. “Both bills attempt to break the infamous ‘revolving door’ cycle that permeates much of politics.”

AB77 and AB438 passed the Assembly on near-unanimous votes. They put the public’s interest ahead of politicians’ self-interest. If lawmakers fancy themselves as our “best and brightest,” the opportunity to lobby their ex-colleagues will remain after a few years. For heaven’s sake, the bills exempt all current office holders!

But Sen. Atkinson and others don’t see a problem with using their power to leverage a new career. All the more reason to pass AB77 and AB438.