WISCONSIN LOBBYING LAW:

2015-2016 ADVANCED

SEMINAR

Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

Lobbying in Wisconsin - Advanced Seminar New Fee Structure For Lobbyist Licenses Pop Quiz – Review the Basics Review of Prohibited Practices

2013 Wisconsin Act 153 Changes

FOCUS Enhancements to Eye On Lobbying Frequent Mistakes To Avoid Question and Answer Session

Fees (Per Legislative Session)

Single Lobbyist License -

$250 Multiple Lobbyist License -

$400 Authorization to Lobby -

$125 Principal Registration -

$375 Limited Principal Registration -

$20 FOCUS Subscription -

$100

Fees Scenario #1

A non-profit organization pays a staff member to lobby on its behalf as a part of her normal duties. She is paid $30,000 per year, and does not lobby on behalf of anyone else. What fees are required?

Principal Registration $375 Authorization to Lobby $125 Single Lobbyist License $250 TOTAL $750

Fees Scenario #2 A self-employed contract lobbyist lobbies on behalf of

four principals. What fees are required?

Multiple Lobby License $400 Principal Registration x4 $1,500 Lobbyist Authorization x4 $500 TOTAL $2,400

Fees Scenario #3

A firm represents four lobbying principals. The firm employs three lobbyists. Each lobbyist represents two principals. What fees are required? Principal Registration x4 $1,500 Multiple Lobby License x3 $1,200 Lobbyist Authorization x6 $750 TOTAL $3,450

Pop Quiz – Review The Basics

Who has to register or obtain a license? Lobbyists

○ An individual who for compensation communicates with state officials for the purpose of lobbying on 5 or more days in a six-month period.

○ Excludes communicating with own legislators○ Cannot be delinquent on taxes, child support, or

unemployment insurancePrincipals

○ A business or organization that pays an individual to try to influence legislation or administrative rulemaking and that individual communicates with state officials or legislative employees on five or more days during a six-month reporting period

Licensing/Registration Scenario #1

An organization employs two people to lobby on its behalf. One person communicates with Legislators on four occasions and the other on three occasions within a six-month reporting period. Who is required to obtain a lobbying license or principal registration?

NO ONE!!!

Licensing/Registration Scenario #2

A business employs a governmental affairs specialist to represent it and communicate with Legislators monthly about the effects legislation has on their productivity. Who is required to be licensed or registered, and when?

The business must register as a lobbying principal and authorize the lobbyist

The governmental affairs specialist must obtain a lobbyist license

Both must occur prior to the fifth communication with state public officials, but may do so sooner.

Pop Quiz – Review The Basics

15-day reporting review• Bills, rules, and budget subjects within 15 days of first communication

• Lobbying topics not yet assigned a bill or rule number within 15 days of first communication

• A topic may become a bill and then may be included in the budget

• Report on the Eye On Lobbying website: https://lobbying.wi.gov

Pop Quiz – Review The Basics

What is a lobbying topic?A succinct written statement sufficient to put

the reader on notice of the communication’s subject matter and whether the communication is an attempt to influence legislative action, an administrative rule, or both. The statement should be equivalent to a bill or rule relating clause, but need not contain a statutory reference.

Reporting Scenario #1 A principal’s lobbyist meets with a legislative

aide to pursue the drafting of legislation that would create a tax exemption for dog food.

The Legislator then introduces such a bill. During the budget drafting, the bill language is

included in the Department of Revenue’s budget.

The lobbyist continues to communicate with legislative staff throughout this process.

What reporting is required of the principal?

Reporting Scenario #1 - Answer

Report within 15 days as a topic of the communication with the legislative aide

Report within 15 days as a legislative matter once the bill is officially introduced

Report within 15 days as a budget bill subject when incorporated into the budget bill

Reporting Scenario #2 On October 1st, a lobbyist spends two hours putting

together a presentation on why the Legislature should pass a certain bill.

On October 2nd, the lobbyist meets with board members for one hour to discuss their legislative strategy for the presentation.

On October 3rd, the lobbyist drafts a letter to the organization’s members reminding them of the upcoming fall election.

On October 4th the lobbyist shares the presentation with three legislators for an hour each.

How should the lobbyist report their time?

Reporting Scenario #2 - Answer

October 1st - 2 hours – other October 2nd - 1 hour – other October 3rd – no time reported October 4th - 3 hours - communicating

Restrictions

Wisconsin Statutes, §13.625 No lobbyist

And no business or organization that employs a lobbyist (principal)

May furnish anything of pecuniary value

To an elected state official, candidate for state elective office, legislative employee, or agency official

Except…

Wisconsin Statutes, §13.625Except:

Reimbursement for presenting a talk

Items and services a lobbying principal makes available to the general public

Campaign contributions at certain times

2013 Wisconsin Act 153

Campaign Contributions Contributions to candidates for local and non-partisan office

allowed If not currently holding a partisan office

A lobbyist may furnish a personal contribution to a partisan elected official or candidate for partisan state office: From the first day to circulate nomination papers (April

15th) until election day AND the Legislature has concluded its final floor period AND the Legislature is not in special or extraordinary

session A lobbyist may furnish a contribution on behalf of a

committee (PAC, Conduit, etc.) at any time

Prohibited Practices Scenario #1

A lobbyist invites a Legislator to meet with three board members at the Old Fashioned to talk about introducing a bill to create a tax exemption for dog food.

May the lobbyist purchase the Legislator’s lunch?No, because the Legislator is not presenting a talk.

May a board member purchase the Legislator’s lunch?No, even though the lobbying law does not apply, this

would violate the code of ethics for state public officials.

Prohibited Practices Scenario #2

A Legislator is holding a fundraising event in February for his election in the fall.

Can a lobbyist go to the fundraiser and provide a PAC check?Yes.

Can a lobbyist go to the fundraiser and provide a personal check?No.

Frequent Mistakes To Avoid Do not wait until the deadline for submitting the Statement of

Lobbying Activities and Expenditures (SLAE) to report lobbying on topics, bills, budget bill subjects, or administrative rules. These reports would be considered late.

Do not create a duplicate login account for the Eye On Lobbying website. Always contact the G.A.B. if you are unsure if you already

have an account. Make sure you change your password from ‘123gab’ if

G.A.B. staff reset your password for you. This is an unsecure password and could allow others to

modify your reported information.

Enhancements to Eye On Lobbying FOCUS Topic Carryover Multiple Supporting Documents FAQs Potential Future Projects

Notes Column On Time ReportsImproved Legislative Data (bills, committee

hearings, rulemaking procedures, etc.)

Where to get more information

Guidelines on the G.A.B. website Eye On Lobbying FAQs Advisory opinions

[Prompt, confidential, authoritative] G.A.B. Staff

Contact the G.A.B.

For additional assistance please contact the G.A.B. or visit our website.

Email: GABHelpDesk@wi.gov Phone: (608) 261-2028 Online: https://gab.wi.gov Eye On Lobbying:

https://lobbying.wi.gov