Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts

Giannoulias calls for disclosure of lobbyist contracts

By PETER HANCOCK
Capitol News Illinois
phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com

SPRINGFIELD – For decades, lobbyists in the Illinois Statehouse have been required to report how much they spend wining, dining and entertaining lawmakers.

Currently, though, there is no law requiring lobbyists to disclose how much they are paid by corporations, industry groups or other special interest organizations..

That would change under a bill now pending in the Illinois House. House Bill 4591 , an initiative of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, would, for the first time in Illinois, require lobbyists to disclose how much they are paid by each of their clients.

“Right now, we’re only seeing part of the picture. We’re seeing what the lobbyist is spending to change or implement a policy,” Amy Williams, an attorney in the secretary of state’s office, told the House Ethics and Elections Committee Wednesday. “We’re lacking what the client is spending to change or implement a policy, and the client is the driving force behind those policy implications.”

Lobbying is defined in state law as any form of communication conducted “for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action at the State, municipal, county, or township government level.”

People who engage in that activity professionally are required to register with the secretary of state’s office. So, too, are the entities that hire them.

In addition to requiring disclosure of lobbyist compensation, HB 4591 would give the secretary broader authority to enforce state laws governing the lobbying business. Those would include, among other things, authority to investigate suspected violations of the act, to compel the production of documents and testimony as part of an investigation, and to review books and records of individuals applying to renew their lobbyist registrations.

Williams noted that all the provisions of the bill already exist, to one extent or another, in many other states. That includes compensation disclosure, which she said is required in 18 other states.

But that was the provision that generated the most resistance from those who work as lobbyists in the Statehouse.

Josh Witkowski, who operates a small lobbying firm called XLN Services, said he has no objection to disclosing gifts and donations provided to decision-makers because those can be seen attempts to influence a decision. But he described the contracts between lobbyists and their clients as private business transactions that should not be accessible in a public database.

“And all it’s really going to do is continue this stigma of believing that money runs politics,” he said. “And any lobbyists down here will tell you, a higher-paid lobbyist can implode just as well as a low-paid lobbyist can. The money that somebody is spending on lobbying doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be effective.”

Holly Ambuehl, a lobbyist for Forefront, an association of nonprofit organizations and grantmaking foundations, also raised concerns about how such a requirement would affect small community-based organizations with limited administrative budgets, including those that represent poor and underserved communities.

“We have a lot of data to show that small nonprofits are more likely to be led by and be serving persons of color,” she said. “And so there’s an equity issue at play, as well, that’s very important to Forefront where we need to be looking for ways to support those organizations instead of making it harder for them to fulfill their missions.”

But Bryan Zarou, of the Better Government Association, argued that tightening the state’s lobbying laws and requiring lobbyists to disclose their compensation are long overdue reforms in Illinois.

“This is not a new idea. Eighteen other states have this practice,” he said. “From the BGA perspective, this is not about what lobbyists are making, but rather a transparency measure for the public to see who is paying lobbyists and how much.”

Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, chair of the Ethics and Elections Committee and lead sponsor of the bill, said after the meeting that although a deadline has already passed for most bills to be sent to the floor of the House, the contents of HB 4591 could still be included in an “omnibus” ethics bill that may be introduced later in the session.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.

Leave a Comment





Local News

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Clear-Ridge Reporter and NewsHound PDF January 26, 2022

Spread the love

Spread the love

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush

Rush rips USDA over plight of black farmers

Spread the love

Spread the love‘House is on fire,’ congressman says  From staff reports U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-1st) recently questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about what Rush called “the dire prognosis of black farmers in the U.S. and the steps USDA is taking to help minority farmers.” “As you well know, our nation’s…

Handley

Charge man with Archer Heights carjacking

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac Police say they’ve solved a carjacking that occurred in Archer Heights earlier this month. An 18-year-old Southeast Side man was charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking in connection with the crime. Monte Handley, of the 9000 block of South Muskegon, was apprehended by police in the 7500 block of South Ellis…

Barco

Charge man in shooting of 2

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Tim Hadac A 22-year-old West Lawn man was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, as well as aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, after he was arrested in the 3700 block of West Marquette Road at 4:06 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17. Isaiah Barco allegedly shot two men in a crime that…

Orland Park Police Chief Joseph Mitchell had good news to report about crime in 2021 except for weapons arrests. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Many crimes down in Orland, but weapons arrests concerning

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Orland Park Police Chief Joseph Mitchell had mostly good news when revealing the village’s 2021 crime statistics. But one glaring area that has him bothered is the number of unlawful use of a weapon arrests that have been shooting up. Mitchell and Mayor Keith Pekau attribute it to felons from…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Former GOP allies to battle for county board race

Spread the love

Spread the loveGorman wants to reclaim seat from Morrison By Bob Bong A battle royale is brewing in the race for the Republican nomination for Cook County Board’s 17th District. The 17th District is one of only two county board seats held by Republicans and it has only ever had a Republican commissioner dating back…

Mayor John Mahoney explains modifications to an ordinance regarding video gaming in Palos Park on Monday night. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Palos Park inches closer to gaming solution

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Signs are pointing to the fact there probably will be limited video gaming in Palos Park. Mayor John Mahoney and the village council rejiggered a few things with an ordinance and some of the village codes and the end result is that Monday they asked village attorneys to look into…

Josh Barron has been named the new superintendent of District 218. (Photo supplied by District 218)

Barron ready to pitch in as new SD218 superintendent

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Tommy John surgery and an auto accident helped derail Josh Barron’s dreams of becoming a major league baseball player. So, he embarked on a different career path, teaching and coaching, and that evolved into his becoming a school administrator. He has worked his way up to the top spot as…

Chicago Police Department

Police reports

Spread the love

Spread the loveShot in the head, killed on Archer A 33-year-old man was shot in the head and killed as he drove a vehicle in the 4200 block of South Archer at 5:13 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. The victim was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:47 a.m. Police said…

GSWNH_TabaraesAndMinaDuarte_012822

Tabares backs West Lawn Branch Library

Spread the love

Spread the love Twenty-third Ward Ald. Silvana Tabares (left) recently toured the renovated West Lawn Branch Library, 4020 W. 63rd St.,, with new branch manager Mina Duarte. Details about the renovation’s may be found in the West Lawn column in the January 28 Greater Southwest News-Herald.   –Supplied photo

Neighbors

volleyball

Boys Volleyball | Sandburg seeks 26th regional title

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Randy Whalen Correspondent Coming off the worst season in program history in 2023, Sandburg was not going to settle for anything less than better results this year. Past the midway point of this season, however, the Eagles had a record of 11-8. But they closed the regular season strong, winning 11 of…

Reavis players celebrate after the Rams clinched the South Suburban Red title with a 3-0 win over Oak Lawn. Photo by Xavier Sanchez

Baseball | Red-hot Reavis looks to make noise in postseason

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent Reavis is determined to send their head coach Don Erickson into retirement on a high note and will head into the postseason red hot and as South Suburban Red champions. The Rams defeated Oak Lawn 3-0 for the second straight day on May 15 to clinch the conference title.…

Richards alum Sebastian Castro is ranked by NFL Draft Live among the top 10 college cornerbacks heading into the 2024 NCAA football season. Photo courtesy of University of Iowa Athletics

Sports Bits | Rice boats at Carlyle Lake, Hawkeye DB and Do It Stevie’s Way

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Noteworthy sports briefs from May 12-19 • Brother Rice’s No. 1 boat of Joe Hall and Joe Judeh took 31st in the state bass fishing tournament, which wrapped up on May 18 at Carlyle Lake. The Crusaders had a two-day haul of 7 pounds, 12 ounces.  The Crusaders’ No.…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Nothing NU at SeatGeek

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent There was speculation that because of the renovations being done at Ryan Field, Northwestern would schedule a few football games at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview this fall. The Wildcats announced their schedule and no home games are listed at SeatGeek, but the situation is still fluid. They are opting…

SXU softball players celebrate a victory over Bellevue. SXU photo

College Softball | Close losses at nationals end Saint Xavier’s season

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier softball team played three nailbiters in the opening round of the NAIA Tournament. But the end result was a 1-2 record to eliminate the Cougars from advancing. SXU (28-14) opened the tournament by nipping Bellevue (Nebraska), 5-4, in Sioux City, Iowa on May 13. Alexus Reese…

Red Stars goalie Alyssa Naeher was with the team but did not play at Gotham on May 19.  IMAGN photo

Red Stars’ Naeher misses loss to Gotham

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The world’s best kept secret is still a mystery. The Chicago Red Stars are not releasing information to the public about the severity of a thigh injury or the status of world-class goalie Alyssa Naeher. What is known is that she did not play in a 2-1 loss to…

CRRNH_PattiTyznik_102622

Summer calendar filling up quickly

Spread the love

Spread the love. By Patti Tyznik Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • ptyznik@gmail.com . Summer is rapidly approaching, and the neighborhood is geared up for lots of great summer fun and activities. The Midway Chamber of Commerce’s farmer’s market will be opening on Wednesdays at the end of May through September…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Shepard’s Kyla Motley cruises to two medals at girls state track finals

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Shepard junior Kyla Motley medaled in two events in the Class 3A girls state track and field meet, the finals for which were held May 18 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Motley finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 4 inches. She finished…

SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Boys Tennis | Lyons’ Jack McLane and Mason Mazzone win sectional doubles title

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The area produced a handful of boys tennis state qualifiers, but only one entry is headed to state as a sectional champion. At the Class 2A Lyons Sectional, the Lions’ Jack McLane and Mason Mazzone were doubles champs. The state meet opens May 23 at various sites in the…

The Lyons boys water polo team celebrates its state championship on May 18 in Lincolnshire.  Photo courtesy of Lyons Township High School

Water Polo | Lyons boys win third state title; girls finish 3rd

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The best matchup of the IHSA boys water polo state tournament was arguably in the quarterfinals. That battle between Lyons and New Trier could have been considered the real state championship match. But no matter what, the Lions are state champions. Heading into the postseason, Lyons had just three…