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Gift ban madness
The Legislature passed a law in late 2005 requiring lobbyists to disclose income and barring lawmakers and staffers from accepting anything of value from lobbyists. Not even a cup of coffee.
The goal was to curtail a crass lifestyle of government workers living off the largesse of lobbyists.But campaign contributions weren't covered. So a form of madness has ensued. A blueberry muffin is now the symbol of undue influence in Tallahassee, not a $50, 000 campaign contribution. More here.
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