A bill to tighten reporting requirements on Statehouse lobbyists is worthy of passage, although it could be improved.
House Bill 1149 would require lobbyists to identify by number the bills they're working for or against when they file their monthly reports with the secretary of state. Many of them do so already, but the statute requires only a general description of the bill. That means there's no searchable field when checking reports by computer.
Another provision we like: Lobbyists would have to list the ultimate clients they are working for. Most already do, to be sure, but some simply put down the name of their own lobbying firm as their only employer. That's inadequate.
Sponsoring Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, probably has fewer friends among the lobbying corps than any other lawmaker. But she doesn't go out of her way to punish them in this bill. For instance, she wouldn't require them to file interim reports should they change their mind on a bill in mid-month. They can wait to make the change in their next regular report.
And that happens. Lobbyists are constantly involved in negotiations with the other side, and sometimes end up supporting a bill they once opposed.
Another requirement would require lobbyists to list any business or personal relationship they have with lawmakers. They're not too many of those, but they should certainly be noted in the public record.
The current bill is quite different from the version introduced. Originally Carroll would have required a one-year "cooling off" period between the time a lawmaker leaves office and the time he or she is allowed to lobby.
Congress has such a requirement, but there is no need for it at the Statehouse. Ex-lawmaker lobbyists don't seem to wield any more influence over their former colleagues than other lobbyists.
There's one provision that survives in the bill that we think should be eliminated. It would require lobbyists to identify issues they're working on even if no bill has yet been introduced.
That's not right. Until a bill is introduced, it's a private document. There's no reason to push it into the public domain.
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