State & Regional Interest	Monday, April 14, 2003
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Committee approves bill to prevent using public funds for lobbyists (Published March 27‚ 2003) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A House subcommittee approved a bill Thursday that would prevent state agencies from using public money to hire lobbyists. The bill, introduced by Rep. Jim Merrill, R-Daniel Island, prevents state agencies or departments from using public dollars to hire someone to lobby the Legislature. An agency could use one of its employees to lobby on the its behalf. The bill does not apply to foundations established by institutes of higher education. Don Weaver, president of the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers, threw his support behind the bill. "We don't think it's fair that taxpayers should have to pay lobbyists," he said. But Gary Cannon, spokesman for the Municipal Association of South Carolina, said the bill prohibits local governments from lobbying. It would "preclude direct contact" between local government and lawmakers outside committee meetings, he said. Some members of the Constitutional Laws subcommittee expressed concern that the bill did not address all their questions. Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, said public money was not clearly defined. "Any money that flows into a state agency is public money," he said. Rep. Seth Whipper, D-North Charleston, said the bill "doesn't really help with all we are confronting." The bill moves to the full Judiciary Committee for debate.

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