Order Code RL33798
Lobbying Disclosure: Themes and Issues,110
th
Congress
January 12, 2007
R. Eric PetersenAnalyst in American National GovernmentGovernment and Finance Division
Lobbying Disclosure: Themes and Issues,110
th
Congress
Summary
Recent incidents concerning a convicted lobbyist and the provision of privatelyfunded travel, free meals and entertainment by lobbyists to Members of Congress,congressional staff, and some executive branch officials have focused broad publicand congressional attention on the interactions between government officials andlobbyists. The First Amendment to the Constitution provides opportunity for interestgroups to participate in public policy making by prohibiting laws abridging freedomof speech, while guaranteeing the right of the people to peaceably assemble and topetition the government for a redress of grievances, but lobbying is controversial.Any consideration of current law related to lobbying will likely involve discussingthe balance between open, transparent, and accountable governance through thoroughpublic disclosure of activities carried out by lobbyists, and the rights of lobbyists, ontheir own, or on behalf of a client, to exercise constitutionally guaranteed rights.The attention of policy makers has in the past focused in two general areas: (1)the efficacy of current lobbying disclosure requirements; and (2) congressional rulesgoverning interactions between lobbyists, Members of Congress, and their staffs, andstatutes governing similar relationships between lobbyists and executive branchofficials. This report focuses primarily on issues related to lobbying disclosureprocedures and their potential amendment.The regulation of lobbying disclosure is governed by the Lobbying DisclosureAct of 1995 (LDA), as amended. During the early organizational period prior to the110
th
Congress, it was reported that leaders of the new incoming majorities in bothchambers indicated that lobbying disclosure procedures are likely to be consideredas part of a broader package of ethics and procedural initiatives related to lobbyingactivities. Some of that consideration might include the following issues related tolobbying disclosure: (1) defining clients under LDA to incorporate coalitions andgrassroots lobbying; (2) frequency and scope of disclosure; (3) revolving doorprovisions; (4) lobbyist contributions and payments; (5) linking lobbying disclosureinformation with Federal Election Commission reports; and (6) LDA enforcementand administration.This report will be updated as warranted. For further background informationand analysis regarding lobbying-related proposals, please consult the CRS CurrentLegislative Issues page on Lobbying, Ethics and Related Procedural Reform at[http://beta.crs.gov/cli/cli.aspx?PRDS_CLI_ITEM_ID=2405].
Contents
Introduction......................................................1Background..................................................2The Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995..................................5Lobbying Disclosure Issues in the 110
th
Congress.........................7Definition of Client and Specification of Client Activities..............8Frequency and Scope of Disclosure...............................10Revolving Door Provisions.....................................11Disclosure of Lobbyist Contributions and Payments..................12Electronic Filing of LDA Materials, and FECA Linking...............13LDA Enforcement............................................13LDA Administration and Oversight...............................15Consideration of Lobbying Legislation, 109
th
Congress...................16H.R. 4682, 109
th
Congress..................................17
List of Figures
Figure 1. LDA Registrants, Clients, and Lobbyists, 1996-2006..............6
List of Tables
Table 1. Registrants, Clients and Lobbyists Registered Under the LobbyingDisclosure Act of 1995, 1996-2006................................7
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