Lobbyists and Transparency Groups Team Up on Registration Requirements

Groups advocating for greater transparency and accountability in government have long advocated for stricter standards dictating who must register as a lobbyist in Washington. Now it appears that lobbyists are coming on board as well:

The American League of Lobbyists has teamed with the Sunlight Foundation in hopes of changing the law to require more of Washington’s influence class to register.

“I don’t care if you call it a rainmaker or a strategic adviser, if you’re talking to a lawmaker about any issue or anything you’re lobbying,” said Dave Wenhold, president of the league, which represents 1,100 lobbyists.

The current law requires people to register if they spend enough time and money on lobbying. A lobbyist, according to the lobbying disclosure act, makes more than one lobbying contact, spends more than 20 percent of their time on lobbying activities and has more than $11,500 in lobbying expenses over the course of the year.