The Prince of Transparency

It’s not easy being transparent and Bill Galvin, Secretary of State,  has pulled off a triumph in the state wide transparency challenge with his office’s web site that helps public policy advocates decide if and when they should register as lobbyists and how to report their activities and expenses.

One of the key ethics reforms passed last year contain big changes in the lobbying laws that specifically define “lobbying activities” and define exactly who must register as an executive or legislative lobbyist. All in response to a bunch of bad guys who disgraced the profession of lobbyists.

Early on, Common Cause’s Pam Wilmot developed a FAQ in plain language that is very useful in answering some of basic questions of small and large non profit organizations and their staff and consultant lobbyists. 

But, many of us were still very frustrated at the lack of plain language materials from the Secretary even though we understood that the short staffed folks at the office were understandably very hesitant to make any official rulings except to suggest that you write a letter. There were a lot of questions about who should register and who didn’t have to, and the Secretary of State’s web site  was not exactly in plain language.

We were all dreading the reporting time (which was not changed by the reform law) because traditionally the reporting forms were not available until July 1 and had to be submitted and approved before July 15.

And lo and behold every register lobbyist and client got an email from the Lobbyist section that announced a brand new On-Line Help page  with a lot of very useful documents, mostly in plain language, that helps paid advocates register, and helps us fill out our reports EARLY and have lots of time to make corrections.

Truly a break though development for the Secretary’s public records division which reflects very well on Secretary of State Bill Galvin, a new Prince of Transparency as far as I am concerned.