Stop Stealth Lobbying Close the 20 percent loophole

Stop Stealth Lobbying: Close the 20 percent loophole and ensure that all who are paid to lobby register and report as lobbyists Lisa Rosenberg

Influence Disclosure

Are you a lobbyist? • Do you make more than $3, 000 over three months from lobbying? • Have you had more than 1 lobbying contact? • Have you spent more than 20% of your time lobbying for a single client over three months?

Get rid of the 20% rule 20 % Rule

Tom Daschle “Right now, anyone who says they don’t clear the 20 percent threshold doesn’t have to register, a provision some insiders even call ‘the Daschle exemption. ’” – Politico, 7/26/2010 • DLA Piper, his employer since 2009, made almost $40 million lobbying between 2009 and 2012

George Allen • “George Allen Strategies is a recognized leader in helping clients navigate the waters inside – and outside – the Beltway. ” – www. georgeallenstrategies. com • “There are plenty of people in the political-influence industry who do all they can to keep from having a big old scarlet letter L sewn into their suit…” – Dave Levinthal, Center for Responsive Politics.

David Obey • Has worked at the Gephardt Group since 2011 • The Gephardt group made $9. 3 million lobbying since 2011 “Former lawmakers who understand the appropriations process are highly valued, especially someone as wired and influential as Obey…other former appropriators have been in demand on K street recently. ” – Politico, 6/3/2011

Newt Gingrich • Worked as a “consultant” for Freddie Mac between 2001 and 2010 • Freddie Mac spent $100 million on lobbying between 1997 and 2012 “The technicalities are a bit arcane and muddied. Gingrich never officially registered himself as a lobbyist, but he did meet with elected officials to talk about legislation related to Freddie Mac. ” – ABC News, 1/24/2012

Byron Dorgan • Co-chair of law and lobbying firm Arent Fox’s Government Relations Practice • Arent Fox has made $3. 8 million lobbying since 2011.

Chris Dodd “No Lobbying, no lobbying. ” Chris Dodd, The Connecticut Mirror, 9/30/2010 • • Current employer, the MPAA, spent $3. 3 million lobbying in the past two years “Hollywood’s chief lobbyist” – The LA Times, 1/17/2012

“The purpose of our lobbying laws is to tell the public who is being paid how much to lobby whom on what. ” Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), 1992

For more information on closing the 20 percent loophole and other ways to reform our lobbying disclosure system visit www. sunlightfoundation. com/policy/lobbying. Contact Lisa: lrosenberg@sunlightfoundation. com @sunlightonhill