Analysis and Summaries

Analysis and Summaries:

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News

OMB Watch Statements

Analysis and Summaries

Past Proposals from the 109th Congress

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Lobbying Reform & Government Ethics

Analysis & Summaries

Analysis

Grassroots Lobbying Survey Results Demonstrate Strong Support for Disclosure 02/20/2007
In early February, OMB Watch conducted a week-long Internet survey on federal grassroots lobbying disclosure that asked respondents to express their support or opposition to a variety of disclosure principles. Over 1,100 people responded to the survey, and the results were clear: strong support exists for federal grassroots lobbying disclosure. Read More

OMB Watch Proposal: Revise Grassroots Disclosure Amendment to the LDA 01/24/2007
OMB Watch has proposed a revised version of the grassroots lobbying disclosure provision that was dropped from S. 1, the Senate's ethics and lobbying reform bill. The text of the proposed amendment to the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) follows a short explanation. Read More

Myth v. Fact: The Impact of Federal Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure in S. 1 01/16/2007
In a Dec. 30, 2006 letter to Public Citizen, American Target Advertising, Inc. explains its opposition to legislation that would require disclosure of big money grassroots lobbying campaigns on federal legislation (S.1 ). The letter gives some examples that misstate what the bill would do and are contrary to the stated intentions of the bill's sponsors. To reduce the confusion we have provided alternative answers to the hypothetical questions American Target Advertising (ATA) poses in its letter. Updated Jan. 18, 2007: More Myths and Facts Read More

Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure: A Requirement that Makes Sense 01/09/2007
Both Senate and House Democrats are proposing reforms regarding disclosure of lobbying, including frequency and content of reporting. One provision would require disclosure of grassroots lobbying activities; that is, activities to encourage the public to lobby for or against particular legislation or public policies. The provision has drawn the ire of conservatives, which are spreading inaccurate information about the legislation being considered. Read More

Senate Lobbying Reform Legislation: Specific Provisions Relating to Nonprofits 03/10/2006
This paper provides a summary of action to date on legislation being considered on the Senate floor and a review of provisions relating to nonprofits. Although the entire legislation affects the nonprofit community by helping to offset the role money has in influencing public policy, there are provisions specifically applying to nonprofits that we describe. Read More

Lobby Reform Continues to Overlook Budget Process 02/22/2006
As Congress toils through the process of establishing self-regulation of lobbying and ethics issues, most proposals continue to overlook budget process reform that is critically needed to address corruption and open the process in Washington. Despite new legislation recently introduced that to some extent addresses the role of the budget process in the larger reform picture, no proposal gets all the parts right, nor does any go far enough to truly have a significant impact. Read More

Summary of the H.R. 2412, the Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act of 2005 05/30/2005
On May 17, Reps. Marty Meehan (D-MA) and Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) formally filed H.R. 2412, the Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act (SILEA), a lobbying reform bill. The bill amends the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA) and focuses on four main areas of reform: enhancing lobby disclosure, slowing the revolving door, curbing excesses in privately funded travel, and strengthening enforcement and oversight of ethics and lobbying disclosure. This summary provides background on LDA and details on the bill. Read More