Defending Your Own

Even though I’m registered as a lobbyist, I’ve never been a member of the NC’s relatively new Professional Lobbyists Association.  Why?  The Association is largely made up of folks who make their living as full-time lobbyists for a particular organization or who contract with many different organizations.  This is, by and large, some of the biggest and most powerful interests in the state.  Nonprofit advocates generally don’t fit in since they usually work as much outside the General Assembly as inside and have very different roles than a traditional lobbyist.

Don Beason however is indeed a member of the Association.  The Association has a clear code of conduct that includes the requirement that all members, “[s]hall conduct with integrity and honesty all relations with public office holders, clients, potential clients, employers, the public and other lobbyists.”

Looks to me by any reading Mr. Beason has violated that part of the code with the $500,000 “loan” to Jim Black.  When lobbying reform rules were enacted last year, Mr. Beason was quoted in an AP story:

"I anticipate some very honest, ethical people will make some mistakes over the next year," said Don Beason, one of Raleigh's most influential contract lobbyists. "I think we're all concerned about the technicalities of the rules."

A $500,000 under the table loan to the Speaker of the House is no technicality.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that Susan Valauri, President of the Lobbyists Association, agrees.

On July 13th, when the $500,000 loan first came to light – but not the name of the lobbyist who provided it – Valauri spoke to WRAL news to defend her colleagues:

Professional Lobbyists Association President Susan Valauri said the allegations are another blow to her law-abiding colleagues.  "It hurts us when a lobbyist is smeared over allegations of unethical conduct," Valauri said.

Yesterday, in another news story, Valauri said she did not want to “prejudge” Beason.

Finally, in speaking to the NC Insider yesterday, Valauri hinted that no action at all might be taken against Beason.

A sentencing hearing in which former House Speaker Jim Black acknowledged receiving a $500,000 loan from lobbyist Don Beason marked a "black day for lobbyists," according to the head of the N.C. Professional Lobbyists Association. Susan Valauri, president of the association and a lobbyist for Nationwide Insurance, said it is not yet clear what, if any, action the association may take against Beason.

She said any disciplinary action would be prompted by a complaint and would follow a due process procedure laid out in its code of conduct. "I have no knowledge of a complaint being filed as of this time," Valauri said.

If the NC Professional Lobbyists Association wants to retain a shred of credibility, they should move to immediately remove Mr. Beason from its membership.  It is simply outrageous that Ms. Valauri hasn’t acted to begin the formal removal process.  If the Association’s procedures require a “complaint from a member,” then Ms. Valauri should be first in line to file the paperwork.  Otherwise how can anyone take a professional association seriously who allows members so willing to bend or perhaps break the law for their own interests?

The foot-dragging can mean only one of two things.  Either Beason’s outsized money and influence reach into the Association’s workings as well as the legislature’s, or the practice of lobbyists giving loans and having other financial dealings with members is as widespread as Jim Black has alleged.  Either way, the Association’s continued inaction makes it look like a refuge for the powerful rather than a organization committed to encouraging more honest conduct among professionals.