Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

A substantial public interest could be served by reasonable disclosure legislation in the area of lobbying activities. The interest to be served by lobbying legislation is analogous to the interest served by other disclosure statutes, that being the public's right to know the source and scope of the major influences that are brought to bear on the legislative process by the private sector. One such piece of pending legislation, H.R. 81, would require registered lobbying organizations to file quarterly reports. Several changes to H.R. 81 in the area of threshold and disclosure requirements could minimize recordkeeping burdens and promote the reporting of meaningful and useful information. H.R. 81 designates the Comptroller General as the official responsible for administering the proposed law effectively and for ensuring that lobbying information is available to and accurately summarized for Congress and the public. However, the Comptroller General would not have the authority to ensure compliance, which would rest with the Attorney General. H.R. 81 would place GAO in the anomalous and awkward position of appearing responsible for administration and for providing complete lobbying information, when, in fact, the Comptroller General would lack the tools to administer the law effectively. GAO recommends that the Attorney General's lobbying disclosure enforcement generally be limited to the resolution of aggravated situations where a lobbyist proceeds in an apparently deliberate or reckless violation of law.