Pocket Protector. In this ethics environment, with potential infractions lurking at the bottom of every free goody bag, who wouldn’t want a compliance expert they could call at a moment’s notice without running up huge legal tabs?
With that in mind, the lawyers at McKenna Long & Aldridge developed a wallet-sized “Gift Rule Checklist” to help lobbyists and staffers steer clearly through the muddle of the new regime.
The guide, which folds to the size of a business card for easy toting, starts simply enough. “Never solicit a gift of any kind under any circumstances,” it advises. “Never accept a gift tied to official action under any circumstances. Never accept cash or cash equivalent.”
Then, like the rules themselves, things get a bit trickier.
“Is the gift from a registered lobbyist or from a private entity that employs or retains a registered lobbyist?” it asks. And among other considerations: “Is the value of the gift [greater than] $49.99? If no, does the value of this gift, plus the value of all other non-nominal gifts from this donor in the calendar year exceed $99.00?”
If your head hurts, don’t blame the small print, because there’s more where that came from. Answering yes to any question prompts the user to flip the card over and see whether one of 13 gift rule exceptions makes the gift kosher.
The pocket ethics protectors have proved a hot item both on Capitol Hill and downtown, firm partner Randy Nuckolls said. McKenna lawyers have already distributed about 500 — at training seminars and through special requests from people who got word of them — and recently ordered a new batch.
“It’s just a good, easy checklist,” Nuckolls said.
The card, of course, warns against using its advice as gospel in a tricky situation. “If you have any question about the applicability of an exception, seek guidance before accepting,” it reads.