LDA resources

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This is a resource document for lobbying disclosure (in the very broad sense). It is a work in progress. It contains the following sections:

Contents

Relevant legislation (with links to the act, committee reports, etc.)

  1. Big picture list
  2. Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007
    1. HLOGA (PDF)
    2. House Committee Report (110-161) (PDF)
    3. Post employment lobbying restrictions staff list
  3. Reform Earmarks Process resolution
    1. H. Res 1000, amends House Rule XXI 9(a) to place all bills and conference reports containing earmarks online
    2. House Report 109-655 (PDF)
  4. Lobbying Disclosure Technical Amendments Act of 1998
    1. P.L. 105-166 (PDF)
    2. Was S. 758
    3. S. Rep. 105-147 (PDF)
  5. Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995
    1. P.L. 104-65, December 19, 1995 (PDF)
    2. Presidential Signing Statement on Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (PDF)
    3. House Committee Report (104-339), November 14, 1995 (PDF)
  6. Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1993 (S. 564)
    1. P.L. 103-40
  7. Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (plus later technical amendments) (H.R. 3660)
    1. George H.W. Bush Signing Statement
  8. Ethics in Government Act 1978 (includes Public Official Integrity Act, which established Senate code of conduct)
  9. Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1971 (with many amendments)
    1. See 1974 amendments
    2. See PL 104-79 to allow electronic filing
    3. FY 2000 Appropriations Bill, requires House and President to electronically file
  10. Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (79th Congress; req'd disclosure of lobbyists) (See Title III: Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act, replaced by LDA)
  11. Mutual Security Act of 1954 (requires filing of foreign travel reports reflecting reimbursement of travel by the federal government)
  12. Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938
    1. 22 U.S.C. 611 et seq. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/usc.cgi?ACTION=BROWSE&TITLE=22USCC11 (agency: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fara/) Department of Justice Rulemaking, June 5, 2003, http://fdsys.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2003-06-05/pdf/03-13947.pdf
  13. Judicial Disclosure Responsibility Act of 2007
    1. P.L. 110-24
    2. http://www.glin.gov/download.action?fulltextId=165467&documentId=195232&glinID=195232
  14. BCRA


Links to relevant sections of the U.S. Code

  1. Federal Election Campaigns Title II Chapter 14: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode02/usc_sup_01_2_10_14.html
  2. Congressional Accountability Title II Chapter 24 (applying federal laws to congress): http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode02/usc_sup_01_2_10_24.html
  3. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities: Title II Chapter 26: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode02/usc_sup_01_2_10_26.html
  4. Political Activities of State and Local Activities: Title V Chapter 15: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode05/usc_sup_01_5_10_II_30_15.html
  5. Inspector General Act of 1978: Title 5a http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode05a/usc_sup_05_5_10_sq2.htm
  6. Ethics in Government Act: Title 5a: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode05a/usc_sup_05_5_10_sq3.html
  7. Foreign Gifts and Decorations (mostly repealed) : Title 22 Chapter 37: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode22/usc_sup_01_22_10_37.html
  8. Foreign Agents and Propaganda: title 22 Chapter 11: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode22/usc_sup_01_22_10_11.html
  9. Disclosure of Classified Information: Title 18 USC 798 http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000798----000-.html
  10. Public Printing and Documents: Title 44: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode44/usc_sup_01_44.html
  11. Election Administration Improvement Title 42 Chapter 146 http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sup_01_42_10_146.html
  12. Information Technology Management Title 40 Subtitle III: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode40/usc_sup_01_40_08_III.html
  13. Public Contracts Title 41: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode41/usc_sup_01_41.html
  14. Money and Finance: Title 31: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode31/usc_sup_01_31.html

Links to House and Senate Rules

Senate

  1. Rules:
    1. Senate Code of Official Conduct http://rules.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=HowCongressWorks.RulesOfSenate
      1. Rule 34: Public Financial Disclosure
      2. Rule 35: Gifts
      3. Rule 40: Franking
      4. Rule 41: Potential Fund Designess (?
      5. Rule 41(6): Supervisor’s Reports on Individuals Performing Senate Services
      6. See overview of Senate Code of Conduct, March 2007: http://ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/overview.pdf
    2. Senate Ethics Manual (S. Pub 108-1); last published 108th Congress, 1st session: http://ethics.senate.gov/downloads/pdffiles/manual.pdf
    3. Committees
      1. Senate Ethics Committee: http://ethics.senate.gov/
      2. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration: http://rules.senate.gov/public/

House

  1. Rules:
    1. H. Res. 6 (110th Cong): http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_Hres6.pdf
    2. H. Res 648 (Feb. 1, 2006):
  2. Committees:
    1. Committee on Standards of Official Conduct http://ethics.house.gov/

Links to executive branch entities that oversee compliance

Judiciary

  1. Federal Courts: http://www.uscourts.gov/

Executive Branch

  1. Executive Agencies
    1. United States Office of Government Ethics: http://www.usoge.gov/
    2. Federal Elections Commission (see legislation: http://www.fec.gov/law/feca/feca.shtml) http://www.fec.gov/
    3. Federal Inspectors General http://www.ignet.gov/
  2. Executive Orders
    1. March 20, 2009 Obama Memo on “Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds” http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Memorandum-for-the-Heads-of-Executive-Departments-and-Agencies-3-20-09/
  3. Forms
    1. Request Executive Branch Public Financial Disclosure Reports (SF-278): http://www.whitehouse.gov/public-forms/sf278/

Where the databases are located

States

  1. https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/sunlightfoundation.com/ccc?key=p1p_ebIzxEehQXSv6jmqdZw&inv=dschuman@sunlightfoundation.com&t=7687996695591894418&guest (courtesy Nisha)

On line resources

  1. Lobbying Disclosure Act Database, available from the Senate Office of Public Records: http://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=choosefields
  2. Site where lobbyists must file their disclosure reports: https://ld.congress.gov:4433/LC/
  3. Many documents are available with the Secretary of the Senate or the House Clerk's Office (Office of Legislative Information)

Guidance on complying with lobbying disclosure

  1. House of Representatives Guide to Lobbying Disclosure Act http://lobbyingdisclosure.house.gov/amended_lda_guide.html
  2. Senate Lobbying Disclosure Information: http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/g_three_sections_with_teasers/lobbyingdisc.htm
  3. Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act Guidance, Rev. Feb. 3, 2009 http://www.senate.gov/legislative/resources/pdf/S1guidance.pdf

Background resources from legislative support agencies

  1. See Sunlight Proposed LDA
  2. U.S. Government Entities with Ethics/Conduct related authority (chart): http://www.usoge.gov/ethics_docs/misc_docs/odrelated_96.pdf
  3. CRS Report, “Lobbying Disclosure: Themes and Issues, 110th Congress” by R. Eric Peterson, May 29, 2007, http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33798_20070529.pdf
  4. CRS Report, “Lobbying Law and Ethics Rules Changes in the 110th Congress,” September 18, 2007, http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C*QL_%3D%230%20%20%0A
  5. GAO Report, “2008 Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with Disclosure Requirement,” April 2009,
  6. GAO Report, “Lobbying Disclosure: Observations on Lobbyists' Compliance with New Disclosure Requirements,” September 2008, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081099.pdf
  7. GAO Report, “Post-Government Employment Restrictions and Foreign Agent Registration: Additional Action Needed to Enhance Implementation of Requirements,” July 2008, http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08855.pdf
  8. CRS Report, “Lobbying Congress: An Overview of Legal Provisions and Congressional Ethics Rules,” December 27, 2006, http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL31126_20061227.pdf
  9. GAO Letter to Senator Levin, “Information on States' Lobbying Disclosure Requirements,” May 2, 1997,
  10. CRS Report, “Enforcement of Congressional Rules of Conduct: An Historical Overview,” November 11, 2008, http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C*PLG%3D%23P%20%20%0A
  11. CRS Report, “Senate Select Committee on Ethics: A Brief History of Its Evolution and Jurisdiction,” updated March 26, 2008, http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%270E%2C*PLC%3E%22P%20%20%0A

Media coverage

  1. “Revolving Door, Bailout Edition,” Mother Jones, April 9, 2009, http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/04/revolving-door-bailout-edition
  2. “Congress Plays Hide and Seek with Disclosure Documents,” Bill Allison, Washington Examiner, April 9, 2009, http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/OpEd-Contributor/Congress-plays-hide-and-seek-with-earmarks-42780752.html
  3. “Executive Branch Ethics: Let the Light Shine In,” op-ed, New York Times, Whitney North Seymour Jr., http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/opinion/l29ethics.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=seymour&st=Search

Sunlight resources (including all relevant blog posts)

  1. Transparency Wiki: Transparency Hub
  2. Transparency Timeline
  3. Upcoming transparency events
  4. Our Open Government List (OOGL) – voting on what the Open Government Directive should address
  5. Sunlight 3 page agenda
  6. Transparency in Government Act (on public markup)
  7. Lisa's proposed reform of LDA from Jan 9, 2009
  8. Blogposts (by Tag)
    1. Lobbying Disclosure
      1. “A Vision of Real Time Lobbying Disclosure,” John Wonderlich, April 7, 2009
      2. “In Case You Weren't Convinced,” Paul Blumenthal, March 30, 2009
      3. “Lobbyists May Subvert Disclosure Laws to Lobby on Stimulus,” March 27, 2009
      4. “Recovery Lobbying Rules: Reversing the Disclosure Burden,” Paul Blumenthal, March 23, 2009
      5. “Apply New Lobby Rules Across the Board,” Paul Blumenthal, March 20, 2009
      6. “Obama Promises Much Tighter Lobbying Disclosure for Recovery Funds," Paul Blumenthal, March 20, 2009
      7. “Telling the Real Story,” Paul Blumenthal, March 3, 2009
      8. “International Sunlight,” Paul Blumenthal, February 29, 2008
      9. “New filing Requirements Will Reveal New Information,” Ellen Miller, February 5, 2008
      10. “Immigration Battle Exposes Inadequacies of Lobby Disclosure,” Bill Allison, June 27, 2007
    2. Lobbying Reform
      1. “Total Transparency Lobbying Form,” Ellen Miller, November 21, 2008
      2. “Is There More Backsliding on Earmark Reform,” Bill Allison, June 30, 2007
      3. “Congressional Staff Need to be Transparent Too,” Bill Allison, June 20, 2007
      4. “Lobbying Bill Vote Underway,” Paul Blumenthal, May 24, 2007
      5. “Amendments Submitted for the Lobbying Reform Bill,” Paul Blumenthal, May 23, 2007
      6. “Lobbying Bill Markup,” Paul Blumenthal, May 17, 2007
      7. “Put Personal Financial Disclosures Online,” Paul Blumenthal, May 14, 2007
      8. “Why We Need Faster Lobbying Disclosure II,” Bill Allison, December 21, 2006
    3. LDA
      1. “Foreign Lobbying Around Bailout,” Paul Blumenthal, March 17, 2009
    4. HLOGA
      1. “GAO: Small Number of Lobbying Disclosures Are Wrong,” Paul Blumenthal, April 2, 2009
      2. “Telling the Real Story,” Paul Blumenthal, March 3, 2009
      3. “Congressional Lobbying Databases Updated,” Paul Blumenthal, January 27, 2009
      4. “FEC Thwarts Transparency,” Ellen Miller, December 19, 2008
      5. “Secret Hold on Bailout Oversight Lifted,” Paul Blumenthal, December 4, 2008
      6. “More on the Bailout Oversight Hold,” Paul Blumenthal, December 3, 2008
      7. “Caribbean Island Trip and Ethics Loopholes,” Paul Blumenthal, December 2, 2008
      8. “Hold Put On Bailout Oversight Office,” Paul Blumenthal, December 1, 2008
      9. “Reform Effect on Lobbyists,” Paul Blumenthal, October 28, 2008
      10. “In Broad Daylight: Massage Chairs and Sled Dogs,” Paul Blumenthal, September 9, 2009
    5. Lobbyists
      1. “Gillibrand's Sunlight Report Pulls Back The Curtain,” Paul Blumenthal, April 2, 2009
      2. “Which Came First, the Lobbyist or the Company?” Paul Blumenthal, March 25, 2009
      3. “The Details on Recovery Lobbying Rules,” Paul Blumenthal, March 23, 2009
      4. “Financial Sector Spent $5 Billion on Political Influence,” Paul Blumenthal, March 4, 2009
      5. “OGE Issues First Memo on Obama Ethics Order,” Paul Blumenthal, February 17, 2009
      6. “PMA Group Investigation,” Paul Blumenthal, February 11, 2009
      7. “Possible Justice Department Appointee to Require Lobbyist Waiver,” Paul Blumenthal, February 6, 2009
      8. “Transparency, Shmansparency,” Paul Blumenthal, February 6, 2009
      9. “And We're Back,” Paul Blumenthal, January 5, 2009
      10. “Washington State Lobbyist Disclosure,” Paul Blumenthal, October 17, 2008
      11. “You Spin Me Right Round,” Paul Blumenthal, January 29, 2009
    6. Lobbying Regulations
      1. “First FOIA Response on SF-LLLs,” Bill Allison, March 6, 2007
      2. “Looking into Lobbying Federal Contracts and Grants,” Bill Allison, February 2, 2007
      3. “Why We Need Faster Lobbying Disclosure,” Bill Allison, December 20, 2006
    7. Foreign Agent Registration Act
      1. “FARA Reports Shine Light on Dubai Dealings,” Paul Blumenthal, November 19, 2008
      2. “FARAdb Allows Digital Digging into Details of Lobbying,” Bill Allison, October 2, 2008
      3. “Foreign Agents Lobbying Reform,” Ellen Miller, June 12, 2008
      4. “McCain Campaign Loses a Foreign Agent Whose Firm is on the Saudi Payroll,” Bill Allison, May 19, 2008
      5. “Paying to not Play: Revisiting the Iron Triangle,” Bill Allison, April 16, 2008
      6. “FARA Puts Some Records Online,” Bill Allison, May 30, 2007
    8. Transparency
      1. “Revolving Door Bailout Army,” Paul Blumenthal, April 9, 2009
      2. “Return on Lobbying Investment: 22,000%,” Paul Blumenthal, April 9, 2009
      3. “Every Obama Administration Personal Financial Disclosure,” Paul Blumenthal, April 8, 2009
      4. “Top 10 Measurements for Transparency," Ellen Miller, April 5, 2009
      5. “Senate Votes in Support of Future Federal Reserve Lending Transparency,” Paul Blumenthal, April 2, 2009
      6. “Wash. Times Supports S. 482,” Paul Blumenthal, March 30, 2009
    9. Online Transparency
      1. “The Rise of Recovery.gov and the Virtuous Cycle of Transparency Innovation,” Greg Elin, March 19, 2009
      2. “FDIC: The Bailout Beyond TARP,” Lisa Chiu, March 3, 2009
      3. “Sen.-Designee Gillibrand's Transparency Record,” Paul Blumenthal, January 23, 2009
      4. “Will Change.gov Post State Funding Requests?” Bill Allison, December 12, 2008
      5. “Countdown to Reform Mandate,” Paul Blumenthal, July 28, 2008
      6. “Earmark Requests Overload House Servers,” Bill Allison, March 20, 2008
      7. “LegiStorm Posts Staffer Personal Financial Disclosures,” Paul Blumenthal, February 26, 2008
      8. “Senate Provides Better Tool for Tracking Lobbyists,” Bill Allison, January 2, 2008
      9. “GovernmentDocs.org Debuts from CREW,” Bill Allison, November 8, 2007
      10. “The Machine is Using Ron Paul,” Paul Blumenthal, November 6, 2007
    10. Personal Financial Disclosures
      1. “Unraveling Rangel,” Bill Allison, February 4, 2009
      2. “Home Loan Disclosures,” Paul Blumenthal, October 30, 2008
      3. “In Broad Daylight: FBI Peeks into VIP,” Paul Blumenthal, October 30, 2008
      4. “In Broad Daylight: Stevens Saga Continues,” Paul Blumenthal, October 28, 2008
      5. “In Broad Daylight: Stressed Out,” Paul Blumenthal, October 23, 2008
      6. “In Broad Daylight, K Street Reeling, K Street Rising,” Paul Blumenthal, October 22, 2008
      7. “In Broad Daylight: No Taxpayer Funded Lobbying,” Paul Blumenthal, October 21, 2008
      8. “In Broad Daylight: Rangel's Disclosure Discrepancies,” Paul Blumenthal, September 15, 2008
    11. Earmark Reform
      1. “Earmark Disclosure Diaspora,” Paul Blumenthal, January 7, 2009
      2. “Maybe We Need Some New Ideas for Earmark Reform?” Ellen Miller, March 18, 2008
      3. “Congress' Chief Admin Officer Orders Change to GOP Earmark Web Site,” Ellen Miller, February 21, 2008
      4. “Earmark Season Opens,” Paul Blumenthal, February 14, 2008
      5. “More Earmark Reform Needed,” Ellen Miller, November 1, 2007
      6. “Sunlight Still Needed,” Ellen Miller, October 31, 2007
      7. “Getting Serious About Earmarks,” Ellen Miller, October 2, 2007
      8. “Just How Effective Is Earmark Reform?” Ellen Miller, September 9, 2007
      9. “Earmark Reform: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” Ellen Miller, September 3, 2007
      10. “Is There More Backsliding on Earmark Reform?” Bill Allison, July 30, 2007
    12. Campaign Finance
      1. “Financial Firm Campaign Giving,” Paul Blumenthal, March 26, 2009
      2. “Who Can Hedge Funds Lean On?” Paul Blumenthal, March 26, 2009
      3. “Every Fundraiser in One Day,” Paul Blumenthal, March 23, 2009
      4. “Sunshine Week Editorials on S. 482,” Paul Blumenthal, March 16, 2009
      5. “Global Problems with Political Financing,” Ellen Miller, February 17, 2009
      6. “Auto Bailout and UAW PAC Contributions,” Paul Blumenthal, December 16, 2008
      7. “Auto Bailout, Foreign Plants, and Senate Votes,” Paul Blumenthal, December 15, 2008
      8. “Auto Industry Bailout: Money-Votes Analysis,” Paul Blumenthal, December 12, 2008
      9. “Big Three Ask for Money, Spend on Lobbying,” Paul Blumenthal, December 5, 2008
    13. S. 482 Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act
      1. “People Are Talking About Electronic Filing,” Nisha Thompson, April 7, 2009
      2. “Maybe 482 is a Lucky Number,” Ellen Miller, March 11, 2009
      3. “NYT Supports Electronic Filing,” Paul Blumenthal, March 9, 2009
      4. “Senate E-Filing Bill Reintroduced, Pass S. 482,” Paul Blumenthal, February 27, 2009
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