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Abramoff ties pervade Colorado Senate race

Lobbyists contract out reporting obligations

By Tom Ramstack
April 12, 2008

Congressional efforts to rein in lobbyists are helping to create a cottage industry in Washington: businesses that help them comply with a raft of new regulations.

As the required reports to Congress on lobbying activities become more complex, lobbyists are contracting out more of their report preparation to outside firms.

At least two of them have started operating in Washington since the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 imposed more recordkeeping on lobbyists, beginning Jan. 1.

"It's similar to why you would go to a tax counselor to prepare your IRS forms," said Roseanna Haley, owner of Capitol Filings, a lobbying form-preparation service that opened March 24 at 101 Constitution Ave. NW. "It's an administrative burden."

Until this year, lobbyists were required to file to the House and Senate semiannual reports that described how much they are paid, their clients and the issues on which they lobbied.

As of Jan. 1, lobbyists are required to file six reports per year and list more information about their clients.

Four of the reports must be filed quarterly to report lobbying activities. Two additional reports must be filed semi-annually to report their donations to political campaigns, charities controlled by members of Congress and political action committees.

Lobbyists must file one report for each client, which can reach into the hundreds for some firms.

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