Senate leader wants to keep lawmakers from becoming lobbyists

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Senate's president pro tem is trying to make it harder for legislators to leave office and immediately become lobbyists. Republican Del Marsh of Anniston says he plans to push a bill in the legislative session starting in January to prohibit legislators who resign while in office from lobbying both the House and Senate for the remainder of that term or two years, whichever is longer. The bill would also prohibit legislators from lobbying both the House and Senate for two years after completing their terms. Marsh says it should be harder to lobby after leaving office in order to maintain the public's trust in elected officials. Current law prohibits a former legislator from lobbying the chamber where he served for two years. Lobbying the other chamber is permitted.