Lobbyists/Government Contracts
- Define lobbyist broadly to include paid lobbyists, union/business officials, and other organizations, and their representatives who attempt to influence legislation or other government action.
- Lobbyists must register (as either volunteer or paid), state their sponsor and file annual reports which include number of direct and indirect contacts (meetings, phone calls, letters) with each government official and the issue presented. Registrations are published on website.
- Annual reports (approved by government officials named) made public
- News release for government contracts (including employment) must disclose company, principals and any known relationships with government officials 30 days prior to effective date. This shall include quasi-government agencies that receive and spend both private and government funds.
- Penalties for failures include removal from office.
- Trent Lott, former Republican Senate Majority Leader, recently indicated that he was struggling with civilian life -- He said, "I haven't paid for lunch in 30 years." That summarizes the problem in a nutshell.
Goals: Get a handle on who is influencing and profiting from government.
Reasons: The media is currently the institution which brings to light improper contracts and influences. Often it comes too late or not at all (where the media is not motivated to pursue issues). This supervision must balance administrative burden that is added.
"There is far too much law for those who can afford it and far too little for those who cannot."
-Derek Bok (report to Harvard University)
"The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse." -Edmund Burke
"A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns." -From the movie "The Godfather."