Federal Lobbying: Comments on the Adequacy of Federal Lobbying Laws
(Testimony, 09/30/93, GAO/T-GGD-93-49).

Proposed legislation before Congress, the Revolving Door Sunshine Act of
1993 (H.R. 1593), would require public disclosure of all contacts that
former Members of Congress and senior federal workers have with
high-ranking public officials for up to five years after they leave
office.  GAO testified that existing statutes and regulations fall short
in adequately identifying all contacts between former government
officials and either Congress or the executive branch.  As a result, GAO
could not provide data on how many former Members of Congress and senior
government employees have contacted either Congress or the executive
branch about official actions during the last three years.  GAO also
could not break down the extent to which such contacts involved either
the legislative or executive branches.  GAO supports strengthening the
lobbying statutes.  One criticism of the existing lobbying requirements
is that they are a patchwork approach to the problem. Other bills now
before Congress also seek to strengthen the lobbying laws.  In GAO's
view, the more consistently that H.R. 1593 meshes with the objectives of
current law and other proposed improvements, the more likely its aims
will be achieved.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-GGD-93-49
     TITLE:  Federal Lobbying: Comments on the Adequacy of Federal 
             Lobbying Laws
      DATE:  09/30/93
   SUBJECT:  Lobbying activities
             Information disclosure
             Legislators
             Interest groups
             Political activities
             Proposed legislation
             Ethical conduct
             Federal personnel legislation
             Disclosure law
             Public officials
IDENTIFIER:  Revolving Door Sunshine Act of 1993
             
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