DFL And GOP Colleagues Suggest Conflict Of Interest In DFL State Senator David Tomassoni’s Dual Lobbyist-Legislator Role [Update]

An update to a story we shared yesterday:  It appears that both DFL and GOP colleagues of Minnesota State Senator David Tomassoni (DFL) are suggesting that his new lobbying position might be a conflict of interest with his role as a legislator.

As reported yesterday, Minnesota State Senator David Tomassoni (DFL) has made the unusual and unprecedented move of assuming the Executive Director position at the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) - a lobbying group - while still a sitting lawmaker.

In an article in the Mesabi Daily News, Tomassoni argues that the move is legal because he will be taking a leave of absence during each time the legislature is in session. In other words, the lawmaker is suggesting that he will hit "pause" on his lobbying efforts when he goes to St. Paul to make laws and then resume that lobbying role when he goes home afterwards.

The news of Tomassoni's new position arrived in a press release from RAMS which arrived late Friday afternoon - just in time for the weekend's news-pause.

While there is a lengthy history of outgoing legislators assuming roles with lobbying groups after their elected time in office has ended, this is the first a senator has tried to be a lobbyist and a lawmaker at the same time.  Ethics' watchdogs are already questioning the nature of Tomassoni's future as a legislator.

According to the Mesabi Daily News, critics on both sides of the aisle started to question this move.  DFL Majority Leader Tom Bakk suggested that even though Tomassoni sought out his own personal counsel on the move, he should look to the Campaign Finance Board for a definitive, unbiased opinion.  Meanwhile, some of Tomassoni's GOP-rivals came out to support his new position, suggesting that their experience with the senator leads them to believe that he would be able to wear both hats.

To read more about the story, click here to view the Minnesota Brown blog penned by Aaron Brown.