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.