The following table provides definitions of lobbying, lobbyist and other related terms from the laws of the respective states. “Lobbyist” means any person who engages in lobbying activities. Code DC § 1-1161.01. Conn. Gen. Stat. ann. § 1-91. In addition to 18 SEC 1913, there are other restrictions on lobbying Congress by federal personnel, as well as non-federal personnel working for organizations that receive federal funds. First, Congress almost always includes endorsements for annual allocation laws, which prohibit professional federal employees from engaging in certain types of lobbying activities and generally also apply to non-federal entities that receive federal funds. Major U.S. corporations spent $345 million lobbying for just three immigration laws between 2006 and 2008. [64] Internet service providers in the United States have spent more than $1.2 billion on lobbying since 1998, and 2018 was the largest year to date, with total spending of more than $80 million.
[65] Conclusion Ultimately, it is the responsibility of all federal employees to familiarize themselves with the laws, rules and regulations that govern their partisan and lobbying activities. The restrictions in these areas are very narrow and specific and should not cause you to avoid any political activity or communication with Congress. If you have questions about a particular activity, contact your Hatch Act Ethics Office or your Ethics Office for Lobbying Activities. “Lobbying” does not include: 1. appearances by General Assembly committees, subcommittees, working groups and interim committees prior to public meetings; 2. News, editorials and advertisements published in newspapers, magazines or magazines or broadcast on radio or television; 3. The collection and provision of information and news by journalists, correspondents or press offices in good faith for the news media; 4. publications intended primarily for and distributed to members of bona fide associations or non-profit charitable or fraternal societies; 5. Professional services in drafting bills or resolutions, preparing arguments on such bills or resolutions, or providing advice to clients and providing opinions on the interpretation and impact of legislative proposals or schedules, if the services are not otherwise related to lobbying; or 6. The act of a person who is not engaged by an employer who has a direct interest in the legislation, when the person associates with other persons for his common good, requires an officer listed in this subsection to make reparation or for other reasonable purposes. Ky.
Ann. § 6.611. “Lobbyist” means a person who: (A) receives revenues or refunds totalling $400 or more in a calendar quarter for lobbying 1 or more government entities; (B) spends $400 or more in a calendar quarter to lobby 1 or more government entities, excluding personal travel, accommodation, meals or honoraria; or (C) spends $400 or more in a calendar quarter, including postage, for the express purpose of soliciting others to communicate with a public servant in order to influence a legislative or administrative action of 1 or more government agencies, unless the notice has been filed with the Secretary of State or the notice has been published in the media. If the notice is filed with the Secretary of State, the tender must include the approximate number of recipients. L`Arche Code § 21-8-402. “Lobbying” or “lobbying” means: (A) oral or written communication with a legislator or administrative agent for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action; (B) encourage others to influence legislative or administrative action; (c) attempt to obtain the goodwill of a legislator or administrative officer through communications or activities with such legislator or administrative officials that are ultimately intended to influence legislative or administrative activity; or (D) activities sponsored by an employer or lobbyist on behalf of or for the benefit of members of an interest group, where one of the main purposes of the activity is to enable such members to communicate orally with one or more legislators or administrative officials in order to influence judicial or administrative actions or to obtain their goodwill. Vt. Stat. Ann. chickadee. 2, § 261.
Finally, each department and agency has its own rules and restrictions on lobbying activities, as well as guidelines on what is permitted. These restrictions may be narrower and stricter than existing administrative and regulatory regulations, and it is the responsibility of each staff member to learn and follow the rules and guidelines of their own organization. To further complicate matters, jurisdiction for alleged violations of the Hatch Act and the Anti-Lobbying Act is often confusing and overlapping and may involve the Office of the Special Advocate, the Department of Justice, the OMB or the department`s or agency`s Inspector General and/or ethics office. “lobbyist” means any of the following: (a) An individual whose lobbying expenses exceed $1,000.00 in any 12-month period. b) A person whose lobbying expenses exceed $250.00 in a 12-month period, if the amount is spent on lobbying activities by a single public official. (c) For the purposes of subdivisions (a) and (b), groups of 25 or more persons are not taken into account for their personal expenses for food, travel and beverages, unless those expenses are reimbursed by a lobbyist or lobbyists` agent. (d) The State or a political subdivision that appoints a lobbyist-agent. Me. Comp. Laws ann.
§ 4.415. However, organizations may interfere in matters of public order without the activity being considered lobbying. For example, organizations can hold educational meetings, prepare and distribute educational materials, or discuss public policy issues in an educational manner without compromising their tax-exempt status. It is possible for foreign countries to directly or indirectly influence U.S. foreign policy through lobbying or by supporting lobbying organizations. Rule of ethics 5.2. There are many examples of lobbying activities reported in the media. One report documented a somewhat unusual alliance of consumer advocates and industry groups to increase funding for the Food and Drug Administration; The general model of lobbying was to try to reduce the regulatory oversight of such a body. In this case, however, lobbyists wanted the federal regulator to have stricter police powers to avoid costly problems when oversight is lax; In this case, industry and consumer groups were in harmony, and lobbyists were able to convince officials that higher FDA budgets were in the public interest. [94] According to one report, religious consortia lobbied for $400 million on issues such as church-state relations, civil rights of religious minorities, bioethical issues, including abortion and the death penalty, and end-of-life and family issues. [95] President Obama promised during the election campaign to limit lobbying.