Bill would prohibit legislators from becoming lobbyists immediately following retirement
MADISON – Today, State Senator Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi) and State Representative Mike Bare (D-Verona) introduced LRB-6331/LRB-1996, to enhance state legislative ethics law by requiring that state legislators cannot become lobbyists until one year after they leave office.
Wisconsin law currently prohibits other state officials from lobbying for one year after leaving their position, but legislators are exempt from this prohibition. Federally, a member of the House of Representatives must wait one year after retirement and a member of the Senate must wait two years after retirement before becoming a lobbyist. Over 30 states currently have a version of a “revolving-door law.”
“Legislators are public servants, and working on behalf of the people of Wisconsin should be our top priority. It’s important that folks get into politics for the right reasons, not for the connections and career prospects after public service. State legislators should be held to the same ethical standards as other elected officials,” said Sen. Keyeski.
“Our job as legislators is to represent the people who voted for us, not special interests. This bill is a great step to help earn and maintain the public’s trust in our Legislature,” said Rep. Bare.
