Lobbying Disclosure and Ethics Proposals Related to Lobbying Introduced in the 109th Congress: A Comparative Analysis

The regulation of lobbying activities by lobbyists, and the actions that certain members of the executive branch and legislative branch may take in their interactions with lobbyists, are governed by laws and congressional Rules. Several proposals to revise these laws and congressional Rules with regard to lobbying activities and the disclosure of such activities by lobbyists and Members of Congress have been introduced in the 109th Congress. Measures introduced include H.Res. 81, introduced by Representative Mark Green, directing the Clerk of the House to post on the Internet all lobbying registrations and reports; H.R. 1302 and H.R. 1304, both entitled the Stealth Lobbyist Disclosure Act of 2005, introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett; H.R. 2412, the Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act of 2005, introduced by Representative Martin Meehan; S. 1398, the Lobbying and Ethics Reform Act of 2005, introduced by Senator Russell Feingold; S. 2128, the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005, introduced by Senator John McCain; H.R. 4575, the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005, introduced by Representative Christopher Shays; H.R. 3177, the Lobby Gift Ban Act of 2005, introduced by Representative George Miller; H.R. 3623, introduced by Representative Robert Andrews to amend 18 U.S.C. 207, to increase the period during which former Members of Congress may not engage in certain lobbying activities; and S. 1972, the Terrorist Lobby Disclosure Act of 2005, introduced by Senator Rick Santorum. It has been reported that other measures may be introduced when Congress reconvenes later in January, including proposals by the majority and minority leadership in the House and Senate. This report, which will be updated as events warrant, provides context, comparison, and discussion of the issues addressed in the various legislative proposals addressing lobbying and lobbying-related laws and congressional Rules introduced thus far in the 109th Congress. For further background and discussion of the current proposals, please consult CRS Report RL33065, Lobbying Disclosure Reform: Background and Legislative Proposals, 109th Congress, by R. Eric Petersen; CRS Report RS22317, Congressional Gifts and Travel, Legislative Proposals for the 109th Congress, by Mildred Amer; and CRS Report RS22226, Summary and Analysis of Provisions of H.R. 2412, the Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act of 2005, by Jack Maskell. Source : Congressional Research Service

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