JOAN BARRON

While Wyoming's lobbyist laws are deemed pretty lame by some watchdog groups, other states have adopted strict ethics rules and spending limits in reaction to mischief rampant in some states and particularly in Washington, D.C.

The controls vanish when the state lawmakers convene for National Conference of State Legislatures conferences, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.

The Aug. 21 story by Christopher Cooper focuses on the full-blown lobbying that took place at the recent NCSL conference in Nashville, Tenn.

It suggests that lobbyists - thwarted by more and more state restrictions - are turning toward conferences and events such as this to reach legislators.

A total of 37 states this year passed or are considering ethics reform, the story said.

Florida this year barred legislators from accepting free meals, drinks, tickets or much of anything else from lobbyists.

Wyoming's current law requires lobbyists to report spending on any one legislator of more than $50 in one year. For special events where many legislators are invited, reporting isn't required unless it costs more than $500.

This is why the Wyoming Bankers' Association tops the list of lobbyist spending in total dollars.

This group throws one big, expensive dinner with gifts for all the legislators.

Wyoming Equality State Policy Center (ESPC) and the national Center for Public Integrity give the state low marks for its lobbyist disclosure law.

The ESPC has been pushing for lobbyists to disclose the total amount their companies spend to watch and influence the Legislature, including lobbyists' salaries and the cost of tickets and other gifts.

At the NCSL conference in Tennessee, 90 companies and business groups sponsored buffets and bars for the legislators from all 50 states.

The companies paid $1.2 million of the estimated $2 million cost of the conference, the journal article said.

About 6,000 people attended this year's bash, including 1,000 state legislators, 5,000 aides, lobbyists and others.

The lawmakers attended five days of seminars on governing issues such as tax policy and health care. One panel was on the overhaul of ethics laws.

Traditionally industry lobbyists take over for the social nights during the conference, including dinners. They also sponsor sports events, special tours and golf.

Two of the dozen Wyoming legislators who attended the NCSL conference this year said they noticed nothing different from prior meetings.

"There is sponsorship by the companies but I never considered it lobbying and I'm very sensitive to that," said Sen. Kathryn Sessions, D-Cheyenne. "No one lobbied me individually."

The Wyoming legislators went out to dinner with Brent Kunz, a Cheyenne lawyer and lobbyist for Exxon Mobil, the American Heart Association and other companies.

"There were no expectations of anything. It was just a get together," Sessions said.

The conference, she said, is valuable to lawmakers and more should attend from Wyoming.

She was interested in the education and technology programs.

The NCSL, she said, works to keep the conference nonpartisan and brings in big name speakers.

"It's really an educational seminar," she said. "I go because I learn so much."

Rep.Larry Meuli, R-Cheyenne, said he didn't notice any stepped up lobbying this year.

"I wasn't wined and dined. I haven't noticed any difference from previous meetings at all," he said.

Meuli, a former state health officer for Wyoming, is the incoming chair of the NCSL health committee.

He said the NCSl paid for his way to visit the Center for Disease Control along with two other legislators to discuss the best way to work together to get legislative updates on health issues.

"We did a lot of business there," he added.

Capital reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at

joan.barron@casperstartribune.net