Lobby and Campaign Reform Making Headway
Three bills that focus on campaign reform (HB 300, HB 310) and lobbying reform (SB 185) are making their way through the General Assembly.HB 300 would do work on reforming “electioneering communication” by letter the public know who is behind various advertisements that tend to circulate around election time. HB 310 increases the penalties for late filing. SB 185 covers, as the News Journal explains:
The legislation, Senate Bill 185, requires anyone registered as a lobbyist with the state’s Public Integrity Commission to report what pieces of legislation and proposed regulations they talk about with representatives, senators, the lieutenant governor, the governor or state employees acting in their official capacities.
SB 185 passed 15-5. Though one of the most interesting items was this quote from State Senator Colin Bonini (R – Dover) :
[He] said the bill is a hindrance to small, grass-roots advocacy groups, which often have one or two members registered as lobbyists for their organizations.
“I think you’re really restricting people’s freedoms unintentionally,” he said.
“The professional lobbyists are going to be fine,” Bonini said. “The citizen lobbyists are the ones I’m concerned about.”
Yeah, a Republican looking out for the little guy. I’m not buying it.
Tags: Campaign Reform, General Assembly
As I understand from the PIC, you are covered when you are speaking on behalf of your organization. You can be from your local PTA, but unless you are empowered by that organization to speak on their behalf on a particular matter, your discussions are exempt.
You of course should check yourself with PIC on this matter, however I have no problems with the proposed improvements to lobbyist regulations.
That said, we cannot rest on the issue of lobbyist reform without addressing the revolving door, and addressing double-dipping (especially when the state job is sought/acquired AFTER the person is serving as an elected official). This is where the current wave of lobbying bills are acceptable but NOT SUFFICIENT.
PBaumbach (registered lobbyist of PDD, but not posting this on behalf of PDD 🙂