Topeka ? Ethics officials came out strongly Thursday against a proposal to weaken the public disclosure of money spent by lobbyists to influence Kansas lawmakers.

The Governmental Ethics Commission voted unanimously to oppose proposed changes to state law that would free lobbyists from having to report their food and beverage purchases for lawmakers if the meal cost less than $15, and allow lobbyists to destroy receipts for lawmaker expenses dating back to 2000.

Of the under-$15 reporting blackout, Ethics Commissioner John Solbach, a Lawrence attorney and former legislator, quipped, “If this does pass, I’m going to open a restaurant in Topeka called The $14 Lunch.”

The Ethics Commission released statistics that showed if the under-$15 threshold had been in place during the first three months of the 2004 legislative session, a majority of itemized expenses currently required to be reported would not have been.

From January through March, lobbyists reported 1,350 instances of buying food and beverages for individual lawmakers of more than $15 for a total of $43,252. About $18,200 was spent on meals and beverages under $15.

The majority of meals and beverages are not itemized because they are at functions where all legislators are invited. Through March, lobbyists had spent a total of $256,561 on lawmakers on food and beverages. In addition to their salaries, lawmakers receive a $78.75 per diem for living expenses while in session.

Commissioners also blasted the proposal that would allow lobbyists to throw away receipts from 2000 to the present. They said this would prevent the commission from conducting any kind of investigation or audit should a questionable expense during that period be brought to their attention.

Another change opposed by the Ethics Commission would discontinue the requirement that lobbyists itemize expenditures made on whole legislative committees, or on lawmakers when they are attending national conferences.

Ethics Commission members said the proposed changes would reduce the public’s ability to track lobbyist spending and hamper the commission’s ability to police the system.

Legislation reducing lobbyist reporting nears passage (4-3-04) Ethics chairman criticizes easing of lobbyist reports (3-31-04)Bill would scale back required lobbyist reporting (3-30-04)

“I can’t see where this bill does any good for the people of the state of Kansas,” said commission chairman Daniel Sevart, of Wichita.

The Ethics Commission voted to recommend that when the Legislature reconvenes Wednesday for the wrap-up session, it kill several portions of the bill that deal with lobbying.

Senate President Dave Kerr said Thursday that the commission’s opposition could sink the bill.

Given the commission’s position, “I would assume it will probably get turned down” in the Senate, said Kerr, R-Hutchinson.

Senate rejection would force more negotiations with the House on the bill.

The bill was the product of House and Senate negotiations and had been approved by the House but not the full Senate before the Legislature adjourned the first part of the session.

Rep. Jim Yonally, R-Overland Park, a former lobbyist, and Rep. David Huff, R-Lenexa, proposed reducing the lobbyist reporting requirements, saying they had received complaints from lobbyists who said the record-keeping was unnecessary and a hassle.