Not so long ago, Arizona was deemed the most corrupt state in the country. Arizona’s leaders, including legislators on both sides of the aisle, have done little to change that status.
While the bulk of legislators’ official work is conducted during the Legislative Session, most of them enjoy the perks of office all year round. From outings at the horse races to university sporting events, the lawmakers are given freebies on the outside chance a lobbyist can get their ear and eventually their support.
Many legislators claim that because they are paid a meager $24,000 for approximately 5 months of work, they deserve the special perks. Too often, those legislators are the same people who, when K-12 teachers complain about meager pay, respond with something like ‘but you only work 9 months a year.’
While Arizona’s teachers are strapped for cash, educational institutions seem to find the money to make friends and influence people. Due to a lack of transparency, the institutions might be able to find the money, but the public has a much harder time finding out who benefited from the money. The table below, shows what UofA and ASU spent on special events lobbying expenses, but not which public official attended the events:
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA – 2016 900059 (Principal/Public Body Report Details for Year 2016) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Event Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 9/10/2016 | $902.72 |
| Athletic Event Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 9/17/2016 | $1,172.16 |
| Athletic Event Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 9/24/2016 | $1,643.12 |
| Athletic Event Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 10/15/2016 | $1,795.5 |
| Athletic Event Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 10/29/2016 | $1,714.6 |
| Athletic Event Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 11/12/2016 | $1,443.94 |
| Athletic Event Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ | 11/25/2016 | $,2362.63 |
| TOTAL | $12,830.17 | |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY- 2016 900033 (Principal/Public Body Report Details for Year 2016) | ||
| Athletic Event Chase Field | 1/2/2016 | $3,780 |
| Tailgate Senate Lawn | 2/16/2016 | $2,406.68 |
| Athletic Event Sun Devil Stadium | 9/13/2016 | $1,320 |
| Tailgate College Commons | 9/10/2016 | $2,272.5 |
| Athletic Event Sun Devil Stadium | 9/10/2016 | $2,040 |
| Tailgate College Commons | 9/24/2016 | $2,242.5 |
| Athletic Event Sun Devil Stadium | 9/24/2016 | $1,680 |
| Tailgate College Commons | 10/8/2016 | $1,600.5 |
| Athletic Event Sun Devil Stadium | 10/8/2016 | $1,080 |
| Dinner AZ Biltmore | 10/14/2016 | $150 |
| Tailgate Old Main | 10/22/2016 | $1,200 |
| Athletic Event Sun Devil Stadium | 10/22/2016 | $960 |
| Tailgate College Commons | 11/10/2016 | $1,200 |
| Athletic Event Sun Devil Stadium | 11/10/2016 | $1,200 |
| TOTAL | $23,132.18 | |
In 2015, Justine Price with the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, revealed that “loopholes and minimal regulatory oversight leave room for lobbyists to spend without reporting who benefited, ultimately leaving the public in the dark about who’s influencing the people they’ve elected to craft Arizona’s laws, budget and taxes.”
In his article, Lobbying records only disclose recipient for $1 out of every $8 spent, Price reported: “Less than 14 percent of the roughly $333,000 spent to lobby Arizona lawmakers in the first half of 2015 identified who the money was spent on, continuing a trend of scant disclosure going back years.”
Public Service Orientation: A Guidebook for Statewide Elected Officials and State Agency Heads
As a public officer, you are paid to do the public’s business. You always should bear in mind the command of the conflict of interest laws: “A public officer or employee shall not use or attempt to use [his] official position to secure any valuable thing or valuable benefit for [himself] that would not normally accrue to [him] in the performance of [his] official duties . . . .” A.R.S. § 38-504(C). Soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, or gratuities generally is prohibited. A.R.S. § 41-773(B); A.A.C. R2-5-501(C)(4). Specific restrictions govern accepting gifts from principals or lobbyists. A.R.S. § 41-1232.02(J). Food, refreshments, unsolicited advertising, or promotional materials of nominal value may only be accepted if their acceptance does not violate State law or agency policy.
Related articles:
Fiesta Bowl Scandal Did Not Change Arizona Legislators’ Free Ticket Perk