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Wouldn't such a law (assuming it could pass in the first place) run afoul of the First Ammendment? Maybe you could ban payment for lobbying, but I would have th
by Alex63 7y ago
Wouldn't such a law (assuming it could pass in the first place) run afoul of the First Ammendment? Maybe you could ban payment for lobbying, but I would have thought that "lobbying" and "political advocacy" were essentially the same thing, and thus protected speech. I like Glenn Reynold's (Instapundit) idea: a high tax on any earnings from lobbying in the first X years after leaving government service.
- snowwrestler 7y ago> Maybe you could ban payment for lobbying, This is really what they mean. "Lobbying" as a term generally connotes getting paid to do it. When people do it for free, it's more frequently called activism or advocacy. I actually think a limit on pay might be better than an outright ban. Former members of Congress have skills, experience, and connections that could be beneficial for advancing a variety of social causes. It's the big payday, cashing-out part that stinks of corruption and undue influence.