Five questions to help navigate Portland's new lobbying disclosure requirements
Mary Jo Markle
On April 1, the city's requirements for disclosing lobbing activity go into effect. The city ordinance requires groups, business, and organizations that lobby city officials to register with the city and report their lobbying efforts. The first six months will be a trial period (see cover ordinance). During this time, let us know your thoughts about the requirements - what you like about them and how they may be improved.
Here are the answers to five questions that will help navigate Portland's lobbying rules:
1. What is “lobbying”?
“Lobbying” is attempting to influence the official action of City officials.
2. Does my organization or business (“entity”) have to register?
Collectively, if an organization’s or business’s representatives lobby for more than 16 hours in a calendar quarter, the organization has to register. *However, for the six month pilot phase of the project (ending in October 2006), every organization or business that lobbies is encouraged to register.
3. Am I a representative or lobbyist for my organization or business?
It is up to the representative to designate their lobbyists. However, if an individual claims to speak on behalf of an organization or business, that individual should be designated by the organization or business as a lobbyist.
4. How does my organization register as a lobbying entity?
Go to www.portlandonline.com/auditor/lobbyist. The site offers detailed instructions about how to register as well as the ability to file online.
5. What does a registered lobbying group have to report?
Every quarter, an organization or business will report who they lobbied, the subject of the lobbying and an estimate of how much was spent to lobby. Reports will also be filed at www.portland.com/auditor/lobbyist.
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on March 31, 2006
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