9/24/04 - Urgent Action Alert on Lobbyist Disclosure
From: Lora Lavin, Election Reform Specialist, lavin@steuber.com

Needed action: Last Spring I sent out an Action Alert requesting Leagues to contact their State Representatives and urge them to demand that House Speaker John Perzel schedule a floor vote on HB2080 before the summer recess. Your action is needed once again. Please contact your State Representative immediately. If appropriate remind him or her of their expressed support for legislation to restore lobbyist disclosure. Ask him or her to request House Speaker John Perzel to schedule a vote on Lobbyist Disclosure before Election Day. To find your legislators and their contact information visit http://www.legis.state.pa.us

Background Information: Since 2002 when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared Pennsylvania's Lobbyist Disclosure Act unconstitutional, there has been no requirement for lobbyists to register and disclose their expenditures. As a result Pennsylvania is almost unique in having no law requiring disclosure by individuals and organizations that spend significant sums of money to influence state government. An exception is that the PA Senate adopted rules requiring disclosure by those who lobby senators. Were it not for this rule we would not know that, as reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer, gambling companies spent at least $1.9 million last year to persuade senators to legalize slot machines.

Earlier this year, in interviews conducted by members of the League of Women Voters across the state, legislators overwhelmingly said they supported legislation that would meet the court's objections and restore lobbyist disclosure. Bills pending in the House (HB2080) and Senate (SB1) would do just that. But our legislators have not been given the opportunity to vote on either piece of legislation.

HB 2080, sponsored by John Maher (R-40) and Paul Clymer (R-45) was reported out of the House State Government Committee in March, but the leadership has failed to schedule a vote by the full House. On September 22, the Senate State Government Committee approved SB1, on Lobbyist Disclosure, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer (R-30). It is expected that the full Senate will vote on and approve SB1 in the next two weeks. If this happens the spotlight will again be on the House to take action.

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