Yesterday, April 21, was the first filing deadline for lobbying reports under provisions of the new Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (HLOGA). And unfortunately for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), a federal district judge turned down their request for a delay of the April 11 decision upholding the member disclosure provision. In addition, NAM's "emergency appeal" with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was denied. NAM's last hope was the Supreme Court. However, Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts rejected an emergency request to delay the requirement.

And reportedly, NAM has "filed its lobbying report for the first quarter of the year without naming its members, citing its pending legal battle to overturn that requirement in the law."

The National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) challenge to a new member disclosure law was dismissed on April 11. NAM was challenging a provision in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) that requires coalitions and associations to reveal organization that contribute at least $5,000 per quarter and actively participates in the lobbying campaigns. The lawsuit attempted to block implementation of the new law, charging that the provision was too vague, and would interfere with their First Amendment right of free association. However, the judge found that the provision in question was "narrowly tailored to serve compelling government interests, and is neither vague on its face nor as applied to the NAM."

The Hill reports that NAM will ask for a stay and appeal the ruling. "We remain convinced that many of the law's burdensome and intrusive disclosure requirements will have a serious chilling effect on the constitutional rights of our members," NAM President John Engler said.

The Campaign Legal Center has updated its two page summary of the Honest Government and Open Leadership Act (HLOGA). The document is a great resource to have on hand with a clear outline of the different provisions of the law. Some of which have taken effect while others are still being interpreted and not yet implemented.