Portland begins registering lobbyists
Mary Jo Markle
Welcoming increased transparency in the city, community organizations were the first to sign up as 
lobbying entities on Monday, April 3. Five organizations - City Club of Portland, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, the League of Women's Voters, Money in Politics Research Action Project, and ROSE Community Development - turned in their registration to the City Auditor, urging all organizations and businesses who lobby the city to register and comply with the city's regulation, which took effect on April 1.
So far, 13 businesses and organizations have registered with the city (10 more groups are waiting for the approval from the Auditor's office).
For the next six months, Sam will study how the new system works. In October 2006, he will approach Council with ways to fine tune it. We want you to be involved in the evaluation of the system. Let us know what you like about it and how it can be improved.
Read Sam's commentary featured in the Portland Tribune.
Read coverage in the Mercury.
Posted by Mary Jo Markle on April 18, 2006
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Comments by site visitors
Joe, I was part of the stakeholder group that worked with Sam's office on this ordinance, and we had the same concern about discouraging civic involvement.
One of the key results of that discussion is that 'lobbying' as defined in the ordinance only applies to those who represent some group. A citizen speaking his or her own mind is completely exempt from this regulation.
Posted by: Chris Smith | Apr 22, 2006 3:50:52 PM
Joe, as Chris pointed out, the lobbying regulation does not require individuals who speak on their own behalf to register and report. The intention of the new regulation is to spotlight what groups are interested in which city issues and to show the public what these groups do to get their point across.
Here's the specific answer to your question "what constitutes lobbying?" Lobbying is attempting to influence a city decision maker (elected officials and their staff, bureau directors, and appointees to some City commissions) about a decision regarding city business. Again, this influence comes from the representatives of a group, business, or organization, not from citizens expressing their own points of view.
Posted by: Mary Jo | Apr 25, 2006 9:35:54 AM
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I have more questions than answers after reading the official notice mailed to my Neighborhood Association. What constitutes 'lobbying'? democratic process of letting your elected official know where you and your orgnanization stand? if i spend 100 hours a year working on 3 twenty minute presentations or meetings, does my time count as 100 hours or one?
I really dont know if throwing obstacles in the path of people trying to engage with government is productive at all. i understand the intent is to try to document and clearly declare where ones alliegences lie, and who is behind each effort. Like the old saw " you cant tell who the players are without a program", this is valuable information as part of the decision making process. but my fear is that it will be another obstacle to true civic involvement ( as opposed to self interest based involvement).
Posted by: joe adamski | Apr 22, 2006 9:13:56 AM