Vermont State legislators are restricted from soliciting funds from lobbyists when the legislature is in session. The legislature is, technically, but no less legally still in session until June 9th.
Gubernatorial candidate Brian Dubie is taking no chances and recently canceled his planned big bucks fund raising breakfast to remain in compliance with the spirit of this regulation.
But this deserves a stand alone mention.
If you are candidate for Lt. Governor Republican Phil Scott it is ok to just go ahead as planned, give yourself a pass and bend the rules. He says he understands the reason for the rule, yet still chooses to pursue campaign donations in possible conflict with regulations.
State Senator Phil Scott’s campaign manager says the Elks Hall is already rented and he did not want to cancel it.
Sen. Scott says "I can understand that it's the law, and I understand why," he said. "Certainly especially during the legislative session you wouldn't want to put yourself nor lobbyists in a compromising position."
‘But you see the hall is rented and we don’t want to cancel it. Trust us we would never do anything inappropriate.’ IOKIYAR
"I'll have to make it very clear tomorrow night," that donations from lobbyists must wait, Lamberton[Scott’s campaign manager] said Tuesday about the event for Scott, who now represents Washington County and is one of two Republicans vying for his party's nomination for lieutenant governor. "I'll have to have someone go through the checks and send back any that are inappropriate."
That’s a good one! Cue cartoon of Dick Nixon with his fingers crossed behind his back
LOL Sue, right on:) How can anyone forget tricky dick:)?
the conversation had me wondering if someone NOT directly connected to the candidate in any way, could set up a legit table at the back of the room and simply say “just give me the check for Phil, Brian, Susan, etc, and I will pass it on to them after x date.” someone gets them while they are hot, the spirit of the law is disregarded but the letter is respected and another loophole jumps up to be recognized….
There just always seems to be a way around this stuff, and someone to exploit that way.
Terri Hallenbeck ran this story in the Free Press this morning, but her take on the issue was “the Dems were playing loose with the facts”.
I don’t see how that’s correct, however. It may have been correct that the guy who set up the event wasn’t violating the law because he’s not a registered lobbyist. I don’t think that’s really the point, though.
The way it looks to me, the point is that Phil Scott is soliciting contributions from lobbyists, and the solicitation is taking place during the legislative session.
I don’t really see how it makes it any different it I say to you “Please give me some money for my campaign” or “Please give me some money for my campaign, but don’t write the check until June 10”. The point is that the solicitation is taking place during the session, which is what is prohibited.
What am I missing?