WI Eye on Lobbying

Molly Nagappala:

I am the Ethics and Lobbying Specialist at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. I read with interest your recent post regarding the policy paper “Post-Map-Ask: Towards a More Democratic, Modern Lobbying Process” by Lee Drutman and Christine Mahoney. What Drutman and Mahoney propose sounds strikingly similar to Wisconsin’s internet destination for state-level lobbying information: Eye On Lobbying.

 

Originally launched in 2002, then relaunched in fall 2012, Eye On Lobbying provides a one-stop destination for all lobbyists and lobbying organizations that do business in Wisconsin. Pursuant to Chapter 13 of the Wisconsin Statutes, such organizations register through the website and use it throughout the Legislature’s two-year session to report on their activities. Wisconsin is unique in its requirement that principals report all initial communications on any given legislative or administrative rulemaking matter within 15 days, allowing a valuable real-time view into legislative lobbying activity. Legislators, legislative aides, and state agency officials report relying heavily upon Eye On Lobbying’s data at committee hearings, votes, and debates. Local media, too, frequently cite Eye On Lobbying as their source for stories on the machinations behind particular legislation at our state Capitol.

 

Eye On Lobbying does not accomplish everything that Drutman and Mahoney recommend – it is a state agency-run website built and maintained with limited funds. The site does, however, succeed in bringing lobbying players large (Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce) and small (Wisconsin Paralyzed Veterans of America) to a level playing field wherein their positions are allowed an equal hearing. We rarely experience pushback of any kind from individuals in the lobbying community who would wish to be less transparent about their activities; on the contrary, the community has largely embraced the system and many principals go above and beyond minimum reporting requirements by choosing to submit memos and position papers on matters in which they have an interest.

 

Molly Nagappala

Lobbying & Ethics Specialist

Government Accountability Board

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