More press on legislative gifts?

We were the target of an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2005 based on monogrammed leather duffle bags that were doled out to all legislators by Arkansas Farm Bureau. For obvious reasons, there is a threshold in Arkansas of $40 that requires reporting of any gift given to a public official. Money and its influence in state government is an important issue and should be addressed.

Today, Farm Bureau gave each legislator a leather-bound folder complete with the legislator's name and a state seal embroidered into it. If it's not worth $40, it's darn close. We'll be criticized from time to time based on stuff like this (and rightfully so in many circumstances).

I'm sort of talking out of both sides of my mouth here since I am helping the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce throw our annual reception over at Rick's Armory next Monday night. Full disclosure: our local chamber also provides a trinket or two to legislators.