Swearing off swag
From our friends at the Associated Press:
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More than 20 state House members have signed up for a new list indicating they won't accept trinkets and other gifts this year, months before an official "no gifts" registry will begin next year.House Principal Clerk Denise Weeks created a registry this year after contact with legislators, including Speaker Jim Black, who has already pledged not to take any gifts from lobbyists or others.
A lobbying reform law passed last year ordered the Secretary of State's Office to establish the "no gifts" registry for legislators or executive branch members covered by the law. But that registry doesn't begin until next January.
As of early Tuesday, 22 of the House's 120 members had signed up — 13 Democrats and nine Republicans — including Black.
You can find the list at http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/reports/noGiftsList.pl?sChamber=House
And now the state capital has its newest parlor game: spot which legislators have (or haven’t) turned down swag from lobbyists.
So far, there are no Guilford legislators on the list, but Rockingham County’s Nelson Cole and Randolph’s Arlie Culp are. I’m sure there are more to come.
If all this keeps up, the people who make up cheesy key-chains with corporate logos are going to loose some serious market share.
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