SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, R-Lake Elsinore has introduced Assembly Bill 359, seeking to set further restrictions on lobbying activity by former legislators.
“We must limit the abuse of authority and exploitation of our positions as legislators,” said Melendez. “Residents in my district don’t believe the current restrictions go far enough. It’s wholly inappropriate for former legislators, on both sides of the aisle, to exert influence on important matters they may have been a part of before they resigned or left office.”
AB 359 aims to amend the Milton Marks Post Government Employment Restrictions Act of 1990 by requiring former legislators to wait five years before working as a lobbyist and representing special interest groups.
“As legislators, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard with the primary goal of serving the people who elected us to represent them,” Melendez said. “Our constituents expect us to serve their best interests.”
Assemblywoman Melissa A. Melendez represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet. It also includes the Riverside County unincorporated areas of Lake Mathews, Good Hope, Nuevo, and Winchester.
