A proposed law requiring lobbyists to report how much they spent trying to influence legislation on individual politicians is a good idea. Gifts, of one sort or another, may have undue influence on the votes legislators cast each year. Publicizing those gifts and who received them could be very enlightening and show why some legislators are so passionate about some issues. That's good information to know.
Many legislators contend the freebies have no undue influence on their voting.
If so, legislators should have no problem with Governor Bill Graves proposal to strengthen the state's lobbying laws. State law doesn't require lobbyists to disclose the individual recipients of their gifts, only the total amount given. Graves proposed requiring that disclosure. Last year the Livestock Association and telecommunications industry were among the most generous lobbying organizations. Previous attempts to pass such legislation or to ban the freebies from lobbyists have been unsuccessful.