Kudos to 24 year old State Representative Walker Hines (D) New Orleans for his efforts to add an amendment to pending ethics legislation which would have prohibited legislators from accepting free meals from lobbyists.

Hines amendment would have emulated Florida’s “no cup of coffee” rule. In Florida, legislators are not allowed to dine or drink at lobbyist expense.

Sadly, out of the entire Republican House delegation, the ONLY Republicans voting FOR the amendment were:
Tim Burns, Mandeville
Patrick Connick, Marrero
Patrick Cortez, Lafayette
John Guinn, Jennings
Jim Morris, Oil City (The only Caddo Parish Republican who voted for the amendment.)

All Bossier Parish and Caddo Parish Republicans voted AGAINST the amendment (again, with the exception of Jim Morris).

Perhaps they would like to provide an explanation as to why it is necessary to receive free meals (or free anything for that matter) from lobbyists.

I hate to be such a cynic, but I do recognize that Hines may have had ulterior motives in offering the amendment, as maneuvering to offer amendments which effectively kill legislation, are common in Baton Rouge. And perhaps those who voted for it didn’t agree with it, knew it would go down in blazing defeat, but also knew that voting for it would make them appear “tough” and reform minded to the folks back home (sorry, more cynicism).

Presently, however, I have no information that Hines’ amendment was anything other than a sincere effort to toughen the bill. And I won’t judge the motives of the few who voted for it. A vote is a vote, and theirs was a good one.

I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt at this point, and thank him for taking a tough stand, as well as thank the few Republicans (and Democrats) who decided that maybe elected officials can make use of the meeting rooms at the capital to discuss business, rather than over being wined and dined at Ruth’s Chris.