Butera
& Andrews lobbyists pledge to follow the following Code of Ethics that has been
adopted by the American League of Lobbyists
Lobbying
is an integral part of our nation's democratic
process and is a constitutionally guaranteed
right. Government officials are continuously
making public policy decisions that affect the vital
interests of individuals, corporations, labor
organizations, religious groups, charitable
institutions and other entities. Public
officials need to receive factual information from
affected interests and to know such parties' views
in order to make informed policy judgments. In
exercising their rights to try to influence public
policy, interests often choose to employ
professional representatives to monitor developments
and advocate their positions, or to use lobbyists
through their membership in trade associations and
other membership organizations. Tens of
thousands of men and women now are professional
lobbyists and represent virtually every type of
interest.
To help
preserve and advance public trust and confidence in
our democratic institutions and the public policy
advocacy process, professional lobbyists have a
strong obligation to act always in the highest
ethical and moral manner in their dealings with all
parties. Lobbyists also have a duty to advance
public understanding of the lobbying
profession. The American League of Lobbyists
("ALL"), accordingly, has adopted the
following "Code of Lobbying Ethics" to
provide basic guidelines and standards for
lobbyists' conduct. In general, this Code is
intended to apply to independent lobbyists who are
retained to represent third party clients' interests
and to lobbyists employed on the staff of
corporations, labor organizations, associations and
other entities where their employer is in effect
their "client." Lobbyists are
strongly urged to comply with this Code and to seek
always to practice the highest ethical conduct in
their lobbying endeavors. Individual members
of American League of Lobbyists affirm their
commitment to abide by this code.
ARTICLE I
HONESTY & INTEGRITY
A
lobbyist should conduct lobbying activities with
honesty and integrity.
| 1.1. |
A
lobbyist should be truthful in communicating
with public officials and with other
interested persons and should seek to
provide factually correct, current and
accurate information. |
| 1.2. |
If
a lobbyist determines that the lobbyist has
provided a public official or other
interested person with factually inaccurate
information of a significant, relevant, and
material nature, the lobbyist should
promptly provide the factually accurate
information to the interested person. |
| 1.3. |
If
a material change in factual information
that the lobbyist provided previously to a
public official causes the information to
become inaccurate and the lobbyist knows the
public official may still be relying upon
the information, the lobbyist should provide
accurate and updated information to the
public official. |
ARTICLE II
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS &
RULES
A
lobbyist should seek to comply fully with all laws,
regulations and rules applicable to the lobbyist.
| 2.1. |
A
lobbyist should be familiar with laws,
regulations and rules applicable to the
lobbying profession and should not engage in
any violation of such laws, regulations and
rules. |
| 2.2. |
A
lobbyist should not cause a public official
to violate any law, regulation or rule
applicable to such public official. |
ARTICLE III
PROFESSIONALISM
A
lobbyist should conduct lobbying activities in a
fair and professional manner.
| 3.1. |
A
lobbyist should have a basic understanding
of the legislative and governmental process
and such specialized knowledge as is
necessary to represent clients or an
employer in a competent, professional
manner. |
| 3.2. |
A
lobbyist should maintain the lobbyist's
understanding of governmental processes and
specialized knowledge through appropriate
methods such as continuing study, seminars
and similar sessions in order to represent
clients or an employer in a competent,
professional manner. |
| 3.3. |
A
lobbyist should treat others - both allies
and adversaries - with respect and civility. |
ARTICLE IV
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
A
lobbyist should not continue or undertake
representations that may create conflicts of
interest without the informed consent of the client
or potential client involved.
| 4.1. |
A
lobbyist should avoid advocating a position
on an issue if the lobbyist is also
representing another client on the same
issue with a conflicting position. |
| 4.2. |
If
a lobbyist's work for one client on an issue
may have a significant adverse impact on
another client's interests, the lobbyist
should inform and obtain consent from the
other client whose interests may be affected
of this fact even if the lobbyist is not
representing the other client on the same
issue. |
| 4.3. |
A
lobbyist should disclose all potential
conflicts to the client or prospective
client and discuss and resolve the conflict
issues promptly. |
| 4.4. |
A
lobbyist should inform the client if any
other person is receiving a direct or
indirect referral or consulting fee from the
lobbyist due to or in connection with the
client's work and the amount of such fee or
payment. |
ARTICLE V
DUE DILIGENCE & BEST EFFORTS
A
lobbyist should vigorously and diligently advance
and advocate the client's or employer's interests.
| 5.1. |
A
lobbyist should devote adequate time,
attention, and resources to the client's or
employer's interests. |
| 5.2. |
A
lobbyist should exercise loyalty to the
client's or employer's interests. |
| 5.3. |
A
lobbyist should keep the client or employer
informed regarding the work that the
lobbyist is undertaking and, to the extent
possible, should give the client the
opportunity to choose between various
options and strategies. |
ARTICLE VI
COMPENSATION AND ENGAGEMENT TERMS
An
independent lobbyist who is retained by a client
should have a written agreement with the client
regarding the terms and conditions for the
lobbyist's services, including the amount of and
basis for compensation.
ARTICLE VII
CONFIDENTIALITY
A
lobbyist should maintain appropriate confidentiality
of client or employer information.
| 7.1 |
A
lobbyist should not disclose confidential
information without the client's or
employer's informed consent. |
| 7.2 |
A
lobbyist should not use confidential client
information against the interests of a
client or employer or for any purpose not
contemplated by the engagement or terms of
employment. |
ARTICLE VIII
PUBLIC EDUCATION
A
lobbyist should seek to ensure better public
understanding and appreciation of the nature,
legitimacy and necessity of lobbying in our
democratic governmental process. This includes the
First Amendment right to "petition the
government for redress of grievances."
ARTICLE IX
DUTY TO GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS
In
addition to fulfilling duties and responsibilities
to the client or employer, a lobbyist should exhibit
proper respect for the governmental institutions
before which the lobbyist represents and advocates
clients' interests.
| 9.1. |
A
lobbyist should not act in any manner that
will undermine public confidence and trust
in the democratic governmental process. |
| 9.2. |
A
lobbyist should not act in a manner that
shows disrespect for government
institutions. |
|
