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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 18, 2015 09:30 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Ted Harhai |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Cosponsorship: Lobbying Reform |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation aimed at curtailing certain influential and sometimes conflicting activities now done by lobbying firms and registered lobbyists in the Commonwealth. Specifically, my legislation will prohibit lobbyists from serving as paid political consultants. Everything from recruiting candidates, running campaigns, selecting staff, determining financing, creating messaging, and providing platforms are currently permissible for firms and lobbyists that otherwise have their influence regulated and watched. Without some control, this practice can create the perception of candidates being hand-picked by those firms with funds in place to meet the financial challenges of running a race. Also, this process is easily corrupted to a point where elected officials beginning their terms already owe their success solely to one particular firm or individual and the special interests they represent. There needs to be a clear separation between the legitimate work of lobbyists in representing their clients and the newly prominent activities of finding and funding of candidates. My bill will make sure that division is clearly defined within statute. |