Five Dallas City Council members want the city to think about requiring people to register as lobbyists if they get paid to influence the council.
The ongoing Dallas City Hall federal corruption trial has brought a series of revelations about so-called consultants -- a broad term apparently meaning anybody who can get you the votes you need for your deal with the city, for a price.
Five council members this morning signed a letter to City Attorney Tom Perkins asking him to research requirements for lobbyists at the state capitol and also in other cities. Angela Hunt, Jerry Allen, Pauline Medrano, Ann Margolin and Linda Koop write in the letter, which you'll find in full after the jump, "In order to ensure transparent, open government, and discourage even the appearance of impropriety, we request that the City Council consider adopting a registration process for paid lobbyists similar to that employed by the State of Texas."
I'm writing about this issue in my column for this week's Dallas Observer. I spoke with Hunt about the letter this morning and told her I was hearing some resistance from people who think asking lobbyists to identify themselves might impinge on First Amendment rights (speech, assembly, petition, payola).
Hunt pointed out that ordinary citizens, before they are allowed even
to speak to the council during its sessions, must provide their names
and home addresses: "I don't buy the argument about the First Amendment," she said. "Here's an example. You know when folks come up to
City Hall, an average everyday citizen neighborhood activist, they come
up and they stand at that microphone. What's the first thing they have
to do? They have to give their name and address.
"It's a matter of
public record if you appear before the city council. Well, why wouldn't we help ensure transparency in other ways when
people are speaking to us behind closed doors, especially when they are
paid lobbyists?
"I don't think this will put an end to graft or corruption. I think
that would be naïve and overly idealistic. But I think it can provide
transparency."
My prediction? A majority of the Dallas City Council believes that the
term "transparency" is code for "messin' with my money." Definitely
the mayor won't go for this.
Ain't gonna happen.
But the debate will be enlightening.Council Members Letter to Tom Perkins
