The Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) says that people and groups who lobby must register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Information about past and expected lobbying priorities must be included in the registration. Most paid lobbyists follow the LDA, but 35% do not tell the government about relevant positions they held in the past. Also, most reports are either incomplete or wrong.
A group of people who were elected to run your state is called the state legislature. It's different in each state, but laws are often made with the help of committees. It also checks the power of the governor and helps keep an eye on state agencies. Two-thirds of its members can override a veto, which can be very important. Most state legislatures meet only part-time, but there are a few that meet full-time and all year long. They are also very different in size and resources. The Lobbying Disclosure Act is a set of rules that say anyone or any group that wants to lobby for something has to register with the state and file expense reports every three months. It's meant to make it easier for people to find information about lobbying and keep the public up-to-date on what lobbyists are doing. One of the most important parts of the lobbying disclosure law is that it says that lobbyists must reveal how much they are paid. This is required in 26 states, is only partially required in 7, and is not required at all in only one. Lobbyists work for special interests, and their work is an important part of making laws. They try to get public officials to do what's best for their constituents, but it's up to the officials to decide how to do that. A legal tool called an "amicus curiae brief" is another way lobbyists can try to change court cases. These briefs often explain the group's position on an issue from a political and technical point of view. The Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) says that paid lobbyists must file quarterly and semiannual reports about their lobbying work and must also say if they have held certain government positions in the past. The GAO checks a sample of these reports every year to see if they meet the requirements and to find problems or ways to make things better. The Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) says that lobbyists have to register and tell the public about what they are doing. When people break the rules, they can get fines or even up to five years in prison. The LDA covers communications between lobbyists who are paid and government officials in the executive or legislative branches. It requires that the official who is contacted be named, that updated registration information be sent in quarterly activity reports, and that the official's written permission be obtained before contacting them. GAO checks if the LDA is being followed by reading reports from registrants and talking to them. We also check information against each other and work with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia to make sure people follow the rules. A person who wants to register as a lobbyist can file one registration for the whole lobbying firm or a separate registration for each client for whom the lobbying firm works. If one registrant merges with another, a new registration must be filed for the new entity, and each remaining registrant-client relationship should be ended. The Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) says that lobbyists and their employers who have one or more lobbyists must register with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Each person who registers must send in an activity report (LD-1), a quarterly activity report (LD-2), and a contribution report every six months (LD-203). Each person who registers must include a description of any direct communication with a member of the General Assembly, the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor, or an employee or official of a state agency about a bill or resolution that is being considered by that agency. This is in addition to reporting all lobbying costs. On the LD-1, LD-2, and LD-203, each lobbyist and client who worked on behalf of the reporting entity must be named, as well as the approximate percentage of equity ownership in the client or affiliates of the client that hold at least 20% of the client's total assets. The LD-1 must also list any foreign entities that: are clients of the registrant or whose employees or agents are clients of the registrant; directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, plan, supervise, control, direct, finance, or subsidize the activities of the client; or are affiliated with the client.
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