Daily Mail political editor Bob Wise gets it, unlike many who have served at the Capitol. He understands that when it comes to impropriety, appearance is as important as reality. The state Ethics Act bars government officials from taking gifts from lobbyists, vendors or regulated entities. And the restaurant exception lets lobbyists wine and dine their favorite government officials at the fanciest restaurants, regardless of the expense. With that much money at stake, fortunes might be made or lost on even minor details in any legislation.
State government has a dismal history of corruption in dealings with the gambling industry.
If members of the Wise administration were to start showing up on lobbyist expense reports after a gray machine bill had been passed, the public would wonder whether the process was aboveboard. That's a commendable goal. What Wise calls his No. 1 legislative priority, the Promise scholarship program, is based on a similar program known as Hope that began in Georgia under former Gov. Zell Miller. Both programs reward students who maintain B averages, regardless of income. Hope is financed through lottery profits.