Here are the House and Senate ethics rules that allow for Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying to take place ad nauseam, with State and local entities ritually exceeding the $50 gift restriction that applies to everyone else.

Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives on GIFTS & TRAVEL 

Under the House gift rule, a Member, officer or employee may accept a gift (other than cash or cash equivalent) that has a value of less than $50, and gifts having a cumulative value of less than $100 from a single source in a calendar year. Gifts having a value of less than $10 do not count toward the annual limit of less than $100.

And here is the exemption for State and Local Governments:

Things Paid for by the Federal Government, or by a State or Local Government

"Anything that is paid for by the Federal Government, by a State or local government, or secured by the Government under a Government contract" is acceptable (clause 5(a)(3)(O) of House Rule 26). This is a broad provision, which extends to tangible items of all kinds, as well as meals, services, and travel – provided, however, that the gift is paid for by a government agency or entity. Insofar as this provision concerns in-kind services provided by a Federal, state or local government agency, this provision mirrors the Standards Committee’s interpretation of the ban on unofficial office accounts (clauses 1-3 of House Rule 25) under which Members and staff may accept in-kind services and functions from government agencies for official House activities.

Example 1. A state university in a Member’s district offers the Member tickets to an upcoming home game of one of its teams. The Member may accept the tickets under this provision. (However, as a general matter, sporting event tickets may be accepted from a private university only under the general provision on acceptable gifts, i.e., if their value is less than $50, and a cumulative value of less than $100 from a single source in a calendar year.)

U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics

RULE XXXV: GIFTS

1. (a)(1) No Member, officer, or employee of the Senate shall knowingly accept a gift except as provided in this rule.

(2) A Member, officer, or employee may accept a gift (other than cash or cash equivalent) which the Member, officer, or employee reasonably and in good faith believes to have a value of less than $50, and a cumulative value from one source during a calendar year of less than $100. No gift with a value below $10 shall count toward the $100 annual limit. No formal recordkeeping is required by this paragraph, but a Member, officer, or employee shall make a good faith effort to comply with this paragraph.

(b)(1) For the purpose of this rule, the term `gift' means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value. The term includes gifts of services, training, transportation, lodging, and meals, whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred.

And here’s the EXEMPTION for State and Local Governments:

(16) Anything which is paid for by the Federal Government, by a State or local government, or secured by the Government under a Government contract.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.