In some counties, when a company seeks small-business or women- or
minority-owned business designation for a county contract, this
designation also applies to the municipalities within the county.
Why can't the same sort of thing apply to lobbying? Tampa council
member Lisa Montelione has asked this question, according to <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/tampa-city-councils-lisa-montelio…; target="_blank">a
September Tampa Bay <i>Times</i> article</a>.<br>
<br>
Why not indeed? It would be a great idea for a county to create a
lobbying oversight program that would apply to all the
municipalities in it. This would cut the cost of the program (per
municipality), and make it easier for lobbyists to disclose their
lobbying activities, easier for them to follow lobbying rules, and
easier for the public (and the news media) to see what lobbying is
occurring in their town and county communities. It would also mean
that more money would be available to have
active, professional lobbying oversight and an ongoing online
disclosure system.<br>
<br>
Sadly, I have not been able to find any countywide lobbying
oversight program, other than in counties that are essentially large
cities with a city/county government. Even counties with countywide
ethics programs, such as Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach County, and
Broward County, all in Florida, do not have countywide lobbying
programs. The advantages of a good countywide ethics program apply
to lobbying. In fact, since technology is central to lobbying
disclosure, the advantages of a countywide lobbying program are even
greater. Let's hope that Tampa-Hillsborough County show the rest of the country the way.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br />
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br />