The lobbyist shared friendly waves with eleven other legislators as well.
Jerusalem, August 8 – A lawmaker of the ruling Likud faction prevailed upon the staff in the legislative chamber to bend the rules of entry so that while normally, access is restricted to security personnel, ushers, Members of Knesset, and select aides, today, the lawmaker could also have the company of an activist whose work involves cajoling, inducing, pampering, flattering, and otherwise pressuring her to vote in specific ways that align with the man’s clients’ interests – because without the escort in question by her side, the Member of Knesset’s mental health may suffer.
MK Revital (“Tali”) Gotliv insisted upon her entry into the plenum this morning that the man accompanying her be permitted entry as well, despite strict protocols for who may and may not access the chamber when the legislature is in session. Her words grew more and more heated until the usher relented and allowed the lobbyist for several pharmaceutical companies to enter with her, as he had no rebuttal to her contention that her escort was her “emotional support lobbyist” without which she cannot function.
“If he doesn’t come with me, I’ll have a breakdown!” threatened Gotliv, 48. “He goes with me everywhere! I need him! If you refuse him entry and I have an episode in there, and he’s not there to either preempt it or calm me down in the midst of it, you will be out of job!”
The usher wilted in the face of the MK’s pressure, and the lobbyist entered the plenum with Gotliv. The man stood behind her at her seat, whispering in her ear right before she pushed the Yes or No buttons for each vote during the session. Between votes and during some of the speeches, the lobbyist held her hand.
Two of the six bills undergoing a vote today affected pharmaceutical companies. The emotional-support lobbyists longest set of whispers occurred before those two votes, which were defeated. Both Gotliv and the lobbyist wore serene expressions when those bills – which would have encumbered the companies’ marketing strategies with restrictions on free samples to doctors – failed to pass.
The lobbyist shared friendly waves with six other legislators from Likud, two from Yesh Atid, and three from the National Unity Party. All looked initially surprised to see him in the chamber, but a look at Gotliv sufficed to answer any implied questions.
On her way out, the chief of the usher staff approached the lawmaker and asked her please to alert him and his staff in advance next time.
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