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See the bills that have become law. <i class="session-arrow fa fa-angle-double-right"></i></p></a> </section> <main class="main-container"> <section class="body-main"> <section> <header class="page-header issue"> <h2><img class="graphic header" src="/web/20150708043428im_/http://txlege.texastribune.org/static/images/icons/ethics.svg"> <a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/">Ethics</a></h2> </header> </section> <section class="issue-box"> <section class="issue-prose"> <header id="former-legislators-as-lobbyists"> <h2 class="issue-card-title"> Former legislators as lobbyists </h2> <p class="update-time">Curated by John Reynolds</p> </header> <p>The “revolving door” through which lawmakers become lobbyists has long been a fact of life in the Texas Capitol. For groups seeking to influence legislation, hiring a former lawmaker soon after they leave office — while they still maintain their network of contacts and influence — is desirable. Critics, though, question whether lawmakers should be able to cash in so quickly on lucrative deals to lobby immediately after their legislative service is done.</p><p>Legislation proposed during the 2015 session would've placed a two-session cooling-off period after lawmakers leave office before they can lobby for pay. Another bill would've mandated a two-year cooling-off period during which a lawmaker-turned-lobbyist could not make political contributions from an officeholder account. </p><p>But neither measure passed — nor did sweeping ethics overhaul legislation that might have made the Texas Legislature a more transparent place. </p> <p class="update-time">Updated: June 1, 2015</p> <section class="related-legislation"> <header> <h5 class="sub-section-header">Relevant Legislation</h5> </header> <ul class="sans"> <li><a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/84/bills/HB213/">HB 213</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/84/bills/HB314/">HB 314</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/84/bills/HB487/">HB 487</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/84/bills/SB19/">SB 19</a></li> </ul> </section> </section> <section class="related-content"> <header> <h5 class="sub-section-header">Story Timeline</h5> </header> <ul class="story-timeline"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/06/01/collapse-ethics-reform/">In Texas, a Collapse of Ethics Reform</a> <p class="pub-date">June 1, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/27/house-kicks-ethics-reform-debate/">House Passes Ethics Bill; Senate Showdown Likely</a> <p class="pub-date">May 27, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/13/powerful-republican-hits-superficial-ethics-reform/">Powerful Republican Slams "Superficial" Ethics Reform</a> <p class="pub-date">May 13, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/28/strengthened-ethics-bill-approved-senate/">Senate Strengthens and Passes Ethics Bill</a> <p class="pub-date">April 28, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/20/ethics-bill-headed-senate-floor/">Ethics Legislation Headed to Senate Floor</a> <p class="pub-date">April 20, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/16/heavily-watered-down-ethics-bill-advances/">Senate Ethics Reform Bill Heavily Watered Down</a> <p class="pub-date">April 16, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/10/ethics-bill-sparking-blowback-could-lose-punch/">Facing Blowback, Ethics Bill Could Lose Punch</a> <p class="pub-date">April 10, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/30/lobbyist-politicians-targeted-ethics-bill/">Lobbyist-Politicians Targeted in Ethics Bill</a> <p class="pub-date">March 30, 2015</p> </li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/06/high-hopes-ethics-reform-its-early/">High Hopes for Ethics Reform, but It's Early</a> <p class="pub-date">March 6, 2015</p> </li> </ul> </section> </section> <section class="share-box"> <p class="sub-text">Share this issue: <a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#68571b1d0a020d0b1c553c000d4d5a583c0d10091b4d5a583c1a010a1d060d4d5a5f1b4d5a583c0d10091b4d5a58240d0f011b04091c011e0d4d5a582f1d010c0d4dX3A%20Former%20legislators%20as%20lobbyists&body=I%20read%20about%20an%20issue%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20Former%20legislators%20as%20lobbyists%20%0D%0Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ftxlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/former-legislators-as-lobbyists/"> <i class="fa fa-envelope"></i> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Issues%20of%20the%2084th%20%23txlege%3A%20Former%20legislators%20as%20lobbyists%20http%3A%2F%2Ftxlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/former-legislators-as-lobbyists/&via=texastribune" title="share on Twitter" class="social-share" target="_blank"> <i class="fa fa-twitter"></i> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=154122474650943&display=popup&href=http%3A%2F%2Ftxlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/former-legislators-as-lobbyists/&redirect_uri=http%3A%2F%2Ftxlege.texastribune.org" title="share on Facebook" class="social-share" target="_blank"> <i class="fa fa-facebook"></i> </a> </p> </section> <section> <header class="page-header issue"> <p class="mini-emphasis">Browse more issues in <a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/">Ethics</a>.</p> </header> <ul class="serif"> <li><a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/former-legislators-as-lobbyists/">Former legislators as lobbyists</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/lawmaker-and-lobbyist-disclosures/">Lawmaker and lobbyist disclosures</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/topics/ethics/overhauling-the-public-integrity-unit/">Overhauling the public integrity unit</a></li> </ul> <p class="mini-emphasis">See all the topics <a href="/web/20150708043428/http://txlege.texastribune.org/">we鈥檙e following</a>.</p> </section> <section class="newsletter-signup"> <header> <h4 class="sub-section-header">Sign up for The Brief: The news you need to start your day.</h4> </header> <div id="mc_embed_signup"> <form action="//web.archive.org/web/20150708043428/http://texastribune.us3.list-manage2.com/subscribe/post?u=3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db&id=68501b81bf" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate> <div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll"> <div class="mc-field-group"> <label class="hidden" for="mce-EMAIL"></label> <input class="required input_neue" type="email" name="EMAIL" value="" placeholder="username@email.com"/> <input class="button" type="submit" name="subscribe" value="Subscribe"/> </div> <div id="mce-responses" class="clear"> <div class="response" id="mce-error-response" style="display:none"></div> <div class="response" id="mce-success-response" style="display:none"></div> </div> <div style="position: absolute; 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