FISHER BILL INCREASING GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY ADVANCES

Measure Would Require Government-Paid Lobbyists to Register With the State

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Douglas H. Fisher sponsored that would require lobbyists employed by the State of New Jersey to register and file reports with the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) - thereby increasing governmental transparency - was released from an Assembly committee today.

"Lobbying is lobbying, regardless of whether the money is coming from a large corporation or state taxpayers," said Fisher (D-Cumberland).  "Our laws should not draw distinctions between government affairs agents working for private sector interests and those retained by government.  Extending ELEC reporting requirements to government-paid lobbyists just makes common sense."

Currently, lobbyists engaged in representing any portion of state government are exempted from the reporting requirements imposed on other lobbyists.  The Fisher measure (A-3338) would require governmental affairs agents retained or engaged to represent any instrumentality of state government for the purposes of influencing legislation, regulations, or governmental processes to file a notice of representation, along with quarterly and annual activity and expenditure reports with ELEC.

Fisher said his legislation would effectively end the reporting exemption currently enjoyed by state-paid lobbyists, increasing government transparency.

"There is no reason to hold lobbyists working on behalf of New Jersey to a different standard than lobbyists working on behalf of any other organization," said Fisher.  "Requiring state-paid lobbyists to register and report to ELEC will make the processes of government that much more transparent."

The Assembly State Government Committee released the measure 5 to 0.  It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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