Last week's Question of the Week asked whether ethics rules should be tightened so that legislators couldn't become lobbyists for four years after leaving office. Nearly three in four respondents liked the idea.

The proposal was made recently by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer, who said he would ask the 2005 Legislature to impose the new rule if he is elected.

Among 517 responses, 383 agreed with the proposal, and 134 were against it.

Some comments:

- Ex-legislators and retired state employees should be restricted from lobbying or being re-employed by the state agencies to affect legislation for no less than four years.

- Definitely not. Since term limits, Montana's Legislature is less experienced with limited institutional memory. Having former legislators as lobbyists is one way we can bring this lost knowledge back into the Legislature. As a lobbyist who interacts with lobbyists on various sides of the issues, I don't see where being a former lawmaker creates any conflict of interest.

- I suspect that some people who run for the Legislature do so as a career move. They want to learn the legislative ropes so they can turn around and make a fine living selling their expertise as lobbyists.

- I don't see any real conflict with lobbying. But I do agree with Schweitzer that a lifetime ban should be imposed preventing former legislators or state officials from lobbying to personally profit from bills they had sponsored.