Ethics Rule Change Prompts Event Cancellation

The Tulsa Metro Chamber has canceled a weekend event planned to entertain lawmakers because of a new state ethics rule that says a "lobbyist principal" cannot give a legislator more than $300 per year in gifts.

"I am extremely disappointed about this," said Mike Neal, the chamber's CEO. He said the weekend event was designed to tell legislators about the city by showing them the town, Neal explained.

The new ethics rule that took effect on July 1 states that a "lobbyist principal" cannot give a lawmaker more than $300 a year in gifts, including meals and tickets to events. Lobbyists are interpreting the rule to mean that if they are a member of a chamber of commerce, the courting of a lawmaker by any member of the chamber would count toward the $300 limit. Neal said the chamber's attorney has advised him that it would be better to cancel the weekend plans.

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