Bill would impose fees on lobbyists, others in Wash. state
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A bill proposed in the Washington state Legislature would require some elected officials, lobbyists and entities that hire lobbyists to pay a fee to help pay for and improve operations of the Public Disclosure Commission.
The bill's sponsors, nine Democrats, say it is intended to unify processes, cut costs and increase public disclosure.
Similar bills have been proposed in the past and failed.
Voters created the commission by initiative to ensure the state's campaign finance laws are enforced and to provide the public access to information about financing of political campaigns and lobbying activities. In fiscal year 2012, the commission budget just tops $2 million.
House Bill 1005 would require political committees to pay a $200 annual fee to the commission. Lobbyists who earn $10,000 or more a year, companies paying more than $10,000 a year to lobby lawmakers, and elected officials whose salaries exceed $10,000 a year also would be required to pay the fee.
The bill would require government entities that employ more than 50 full-time employees would be required to pay $150 annually.
All money from the fees would go into a new account to be used only for improving computer and database technology to make campaign finance and lobbying reports more readily available to the public, under the bill.
Candidates for elected office are required to file reports to the commission detailing financial contributions. Paid lobbyists must register with the commission before lobbying state government. They are required to file monthly reports disclosing their compensation, entertainment expenses, campaign contributions given, and other lobbying-related expenditures.
The commission currently operates an online, searchable database for campaign finance reports, but such a database is not yet available for lobbying information. More than 900 lobbyists registered with the commission for the 2012 legislative session, representing many more companies and clients.
The bill's sponsors, nine Democrats, say it is intended to unify processes, cut costs and increase public disclosure.
Similar bills have been proposed in the past and failed.
Voters created the commission by initiative to ensure the state's campaign finance laws are enforced and to provide the public access to information about financing of political campaigns and lobbying activities. In fiscal year 2012, the commission budget just tops $2 million.
House Bill 1005 would require political committees to pay a $200 annual fee to the commission. Lobbyists who earn $10,000 or more a year, companies paying more than $10,000 a year to lobby lawmakers, and elected officials whose salaries exceed $10,000 a year also would be required to pay the fee.
The bill would require government entities that employ more than 50 full-time employees would be required to pay $150 annually.
All money from the fees would go into a new account to be used only for improving computer and database technology to make campaign finance and lobbying reports more readily available to the public, under the bill.
Candidates for elected office are required to file reports to the commission detailing financial contributions. Paid lobbyists must register with the commission before lobbying state government. They are required to file monthly reports disclosing their compensation, entertainment expenses, campaign contributions given, and other lobbying-related expenditures.
The commission currently operates an online, searchable database for campaign finance reports, but such a database is not yet available for lobbying information. More than 900 lobbyists registered with the commission for the 2012 legislative session, representing many more companies and clients.
One more way to make sure only those that have the money get the ear of the government. Â
I'd like to see a law that bans paid lobbyists both at the state and national level. If someone wants to lobby they should do it on their own time. I've been to hearings and made comments and written my legislators and Congressional folks without pay and that's the way it should work. Otherwise it's just companies buying government. Oh, that's right, we have the best government that money can buy.
Sounds like the Democrats want to charge for freedom of speech and expression.
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 @Maynard G Krebbs I would bet this is a bunch of short sighted democrats that think they can tax conservatives but don't forget that they are as much in bed with lobbyists as their opponents.Â
How about banning lobbying altogether? Politicians and lobbyists are in bed together, and they do not care about the voters. The laws are written and passed solely for the lobbyists benefit
How nice, a state fee for stealing our democracy with lobbyists and corporate campaign contributions.
Is lobbying legal? If it is, why? If not, why isn't anything being done about it? For that matter, if it IS legal, still why isn't anything being done about it?
 @jowsuf Lobbying is a very loose term. Anyone who brings an issue before a politician can be said to be "lobbying". It really is the only way politicians can schedule their time to hear and learn about issues. Lobbying in and of itself is not a problem, nor should it be.
Sounds good to me. Make it law.
$2M is more than enough to cover what they are chartered to do. More than likely most of it is going to pay a bloated payroll.Â
 @oldster70 If it expands their mandate and coverage, the additional costs are worth it.
A tax on the lobbyists to fund the public's ability to know what is going on in Olympia. That makes sense. I suppose that means it won't go anywhere.Â
900 lobbyists for 158 elected officials, that's about 5.7 paid lobbyists for each elected official. I guess paying for influence pays off.
Tax and spend. How about cutting spending instead of tax, tax and more tax.  These lawmakers would charge us for the air if they could. Â
 @heyjoe Hey, Don't be giving them any ideas.
Why don't you do something worthwhile, like enacting measures to get & keep drunks off our roadways, and the mentally ill isolated from the rest of a law-abiding society.... Sheesh...
Earn your paycheck, for a change.
@Throbbinhood mentally ill encompasses fully functioning and successful members of society that are on medication and receiving treatment. Mentally ill should also include people like yourself who pass judgement on others without knowing anything about them.
I hear people like you say things like "keeping drunks off our roadways" and guns out of the hands of criminals. Drunks are going to get behind the wheel no matter what, and criminals are going to find guns. Maybe you should run for office if you are that disenchanted, and propose some great ideas for us.
 @Throbbinhood While I am at it... I am mentally ill. I also pay my taxes, obey the law, don't drive drunk, commit any other crimes aside from maybe driving too fast. So where do you come off positioning me opposite the "rest of a law-abiding society?"
@Nic Stevens @Throbbinhood Im diagnosed with mood disorder and have ADD. I take medication, pay my taxes and obey the laws. In fact, my taxes even benefit throbbinhood and his egotistical and arrogant, self-riteous attitude.
 @Throbbinhood There is an estimated 57 million people who are diagnosed with mental illness. Most of these people are more likely to be the victims of violent crime rather than the perpetrator. Even if that weren't the case, where do you want the mentally ill isolated to? Who is going to pay for it?
How long will it take for it to change into a fee to ask a question? Down the road, they try to muzzle all dissent.
Lawmakers are not interested on the public knowing who is buying their votes. This bill will go nowhere.Â
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When the legislature won't act, it's time for another initiative, and it should dedicate sufficient funding for the PDC.
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Olympia, what have you done for the people lately?