Baltimore City Council Tightens Restrictions On Lobbyists, Require Forms Go Online

The Baltimore City Council passed legislation Monday that would tighten restrictions on lobbyists and require the ethics board to post lobbying disclosure forms online.

“Our city is taking steps towards becoming more transparent and open,” said the bill’s lead sponsor, Councilman Zeke Cohen, who represents Southeast Baltimore. “This legislation places Baltimore at the forefront of lobbying reform.”

Cohen’s bill, called the Transparency in Lobbying Act, would require:

* Lobbyists approaching city government officials to “affirmatively identify” their clients;
* Lobbyists to file disclosure reports twice a year, rather than annually.
* The ethics board to post those reports online within 30 days of their filing, disclosing who paid lobbyists _ and how much;
* The City Ethics Board to consider a three-year ban for any lobbyist who violates the act.

Click here to read the rest of the article written by Luke Broadwater over at the Baltimore Sun

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