Lobbyists may be required to report City Hall contacts
By Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer 10/3/08
Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin introduced legislation that would require political consultants to disclose communications with any city official or city staff member. Examiner file photo SAN FRANCISCO – The public could gain more insight into the activities of political consultants seeking to influence city officials under a new law forcing lobbyists to report who they try to sway.
Political consultants are currently not required to report lobbying contacts if they do not engage in full-time lobbying activity, defined by The City as earning more than $3,200 in a three-month period, or making 25 contacts within two months.
But political consultants with high-profile clients arguably exert significant influence over decision-makers without engaging in the level of lobbying activity defined by The City.
Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin introduced legislation that would require political consultants to disclose communications with any city official or city staff member in quarterly reports to the Ethics Commission.
In the reports, the political consultant would have to list all current and past clients during the previous five years, name each city official and staffer the consultant made a lobbying contact with, list the lobbying clients and disclose the dollar amount paid for the services.
The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee voted 2-0 Thursday to send the legislation to the full board with a recommendation for its approval.
Committee chair Supervisor Chris Daly praised the legislation for addressing “one of the major flaws of the American political system.”
This is not the first time in recent months that a member of the Board of Supervisors attempted to impose tougher regulations on lobbyists.
Earlier this year, Daly unsuccessfully tried to have legislation adopted that would require all lobbyists to wear badges on their lapels identifying themselves as lobbyists as well as who they are working for when on the job.
Political consultants are currently required to report with the Ethics Commission the clients they are doing consultant work for and how much they are paid.
Between March and May, 26 political consultants reported with the Ethics Commission receiving about $1 million, combined, for
services
The Board of Supervisors will vote Tuesday on adopting the new requirements.
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