Clients of state Senator Robert Hertzberg, who has a second job a Los Angeles law firm, remain undisclosed despite the fact that he proposed a major overhaul of the state’s tax laws that could benefit some corporations at the expense of other industries.
A Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests filed by Senator Hertzberg in March of 2014 is out of date, disclosing his former firm and containing no client list
In a letter to the senator, Consumer Watchdog wrote, "Disclosure of your clients will allow Californians to gauge the net impact on these clients if your tax proposal is adopted, and whether any conflict exists between their business interests and the public interest. Any state official who maintains a business while serving in the state legislature should reveal to every extent possible their economic interests."
The letter continued, "unlike a real estate agent or the owner of a grocery store, disclosing a salary from a law firm or consulting agency fails to give the public a complete picture of the financial interests that pay your salary. Disclosure of your client list will assure your constituents that you follow not only the letter, but the spirit of California’s conflict of interest law. Although a Los Angeles Times story indicated you had agreed to reveal your clients, that disclosure has not yet been made."
"It is unusual to take a position at a law firm just after being elected to a public office, particularly to enter a Government and Regulatory Law Practice Group that, according to the Glaser Weil website, works with ‘clients and government officials to help shape public policy to advance our clients’ interests."
"Californians deserve a full picture of their elected officials’ financial interests and obligations," Consumer Watchdog wrote. "We therefore ask that you provide a list of your clients at Glaser Weil now, and that you update it in real time if those clients change."
Download the letter: www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/ltr_hertzberg_1-12-15.pdf
