The Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN) on Tuesday reported that Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land issued a declaratory ruling on September 8 that will end the practice of “split the cost” gift giving by state lobbyists. The ruling was made in response to a letter sent to Land in March of this year by Robert S. LaBrant of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce and Rich Robinson of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network that outlined a common scenario where two lobbyists representing unrelated organizations might take a state legislator out for a round of golf that costs $85 and divide the cost between the two in order to avoid Michigan’s $51 cap for gifts to legislators. Robinson praised the decision, stating that “If public officials want recreation, entertainment or any other kind of goodies, they need to do what their constituents do: Manage your paycheck and pay your own way.”
Ruling Disallows Cooperative Lobbying Gifts
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