The public comment period for this legislation has ended.

Transparency in Government Act 2008

4 section comments

Title IV - Improving Lobbyist Reporting and Disclosure of Information

Sec. 401. Monthly filing of Lobbying Disclosure Reports.

Monthly filing of lobbyist disclosure reports provides the public with critical information about who is attempting to influence Members of Congress in a timely manner. Quarterly filing, as is currently required, leads to situations where fast-moving bills get voted on before the public has time to scrutinize who has been influential in moving or blocking important legislation.

  1. Monthly Filing Required- Section 5 of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1604) is amended




    1. in subsection (a)




      1. by striking `Quarterly’ and inserting `Monthly’;




      2. by striking `the quarterly period’ and insert `the monthly period beginning on the first days of each month’; and




      3. by striking `such quarterly period’ and insert `such monthly period’; and






    2. in subsection (b)




      1. in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking quarterly report’ and inserting `monthly report’;




      2. in paragraph (2), by striking `quarterly filing period’ and inserting `monthly period’;




      3. in paragraph (3), by striking `quarterly period’ and inserting `monthly period’; and




      4. in paragraph (4), by striking `quarterly filing period’ and inserting `monthly period’.








  2. Conforming Amendments-




    1. DEFINITION- Section 3 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1602) is amended in paragraph (10) by striking `three month period’ and inserting `one month period’.




    2. REGISTRATION- Section 4 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is amended




      1. in subsection (a)(3)(A) by striking `quarterly period’ and inserting `monthly period’; and




      2. in subsection (b)(3)(A) by striking `quarterly period’ and inserting `monthly period’.






    3. ENFORCEMENT- Section 6 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1605) is amended in paragraph (6) by striking `quarterly period’ and inserting `monthly period’.




    4. ESTIMATES- Section 15 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1610) is amended




      1. in subsection (a)(1) by striking `quarterly period’ and inserting `monthly period’; and




      2. in subsection (b)(1) by striking `quarterly period’ and inserting `monthly period’.






    5. DOLLAR AMOUNTS-




      1. Section 4 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1603) is further amended




        1. in subsection (a)(3)(A)(i), by striking `$2,500’ and inserting `$750’;




        2. in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii), by striking `$10,000’ and inserting `$3,000’;




        3. in subsection (b)(3)(A), by striking `$5,000’ and inserting `$2,500’; and




        4. in subsection (b)(4), by striking `$5,000’ and inserting `$2,500’.






      2. Section 5 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1604) is further amended




        1. in subsection©(1), by striking `$5,000’ and `$10,000’ and inserting `$2,500’ and `$5,000’, respectively; and




        2. in subsection©(2), by striking `$5,000’ both places such term appears and inserting `$2,500’.

General Comments on Transparency in Government Act 2008

Craig on April 4, 2008

There is absolutely nothing to be gained by making monthly filings instead of quarterly. The dollar amount sections are agreeable with me.

Anonymous on April 4, 2008

Lobbyist's reports can and should be made as timely as possible: I suggest all references to "monthly" be changed to "weekly". Absent reasonably contemporaneous disclosure of who is lobbying whom for what, the substantial likelihood is that these reports will remain only useful for those interested in trying to find out what happened after the fact. The public interest will best be served only when the information is sufficiently contemporaneous to enable all parties interested in a legislative subject to notice of what is happening so that they too can attempt to affect the outcome. What identifiable public (as opposed to private) interest is there in delaying disclosure? Can it really be argued that timely disclosure is unduly burdensome or not possible when there is scarcely a lobbyist whose lobbying schedule and related records are not maintained on their firm's computers, their Blackberry's or other PDA's? It is time to make lobbyists report timely and thus useful for the public good.

David Coker on April 28, 2008

You are only fooling yourself by believing you can make a difference. You only see and hear what the big corporate interests want you to see and hear. If you don't believe me you should see " America Freedom to Fascism."

John D. Watts, Individual on April 28, 2008

Many prohibitions now exist against private interest collaboration such as "Insider Info", cartels, etc but where the dollars are biggest (in government) there are none. The constitution doesnt provide for lobbyiests to intervene between govt officials and their constituants, so I suggest a safeguard. Prohibit all discussions of the issues with the officials except thru exchanges on a govt website accessable to all. This will reduce exchanges to proper and well considered matters, and will allow voters to judge the adequacy and character of their representatives. The work and expense incurred will be perhaps one thousandth of one percent of the funds they manage, better than any commercial endeavor.