May 25, 2013
The State Ethics Commission ruled Wednesday that Lieutenant Governor Steve Windom can lobby the Legislature when he leaves office in January, but he can't lobby his successor, Lucy Baxley.
Windom, a Mobile lawyer, had asked the commission to interpret how the state's revolving door law applies to him.
The law states that for two years after leaving office, a former public official can't get paid to lobby the agency, commission or legislative body where the official served.
The State Ethics Commission decided the lieutenant governor is a member of the executive branch, not the legislative branch, which means there is no prohibition against him lobbying the Legislature for pay.
The revolving door law does prohibit Windom from getting paid to lobby the next lieutenant governor for two years.
Windom was Alabama's first Republican lieutenant governor since reconstruction. He ran for governor, but lost the GOP primary in June to Congressman Bob Riley.
