New Lobbying Regulation Report

A report worth reading was recently published by the OECD: <a href="http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2009doc.nsf/ENGDATCORPLOOK/NT00002A56/$FI…; target="”_blank”">Self-Regulation
and Regulation of the Lobbying Profession</a>. Its focus on European
countries provides a valuable complement to American lobbying
regulation. Below is a condensed version of the report's executive
summary:<br>
<br>

"This report examines self-regulation and regulation of the lobbying
profession in an effort to rein in the perception or reality of undue
influence-peddling, with a particular emphasis on European experiences.
In their role of creating a bridge between the private sector and the
public sector, lobbyists and public officials instinctively relate
according to the “reciprocity principle,” in which lobbyists providing
needed research, gifts or other items of value help create a sense of
obligation on behalf of appreciative public officials. This unique
nature and relationship between lobbyists and public officials alone
warrants special transparency requirements not due others in the
private sector.<br>
<br>
"The study documents measures taken by lobbying associations in
self-regulating the profession through a series of personal interviews
with leaders of the associations in Europe. These interviews unveil an
extensive analysis of the history and roles lobbying associations serve
in professionalising the practice of lobbying. Some of the professional
lobbying associations have refined ethics codes for lobbyists from
general concepts to specific behavioural guidelines in an effort to
curtail inappropriate influence-peddling. These associations have also
dedicated extensive resources to ethics training and education for
lobbyists – a role in which the professional associations excel.<br>
<br>
"The research then quickly turns to employing the most comprehensive
survey to date of attitudes among European lobbyists toward
self-regulation and regulation of the lobbying profession. Many of the
results of this survey are surprising, such as finding a marked
consensus among lobbyists that transparency of the profession is
necessary and constructive. But sharp differences begin to emerge
within the lobbying profession over who would best manage a lobbyist
transparency program. Most notably, lobbyists who believe that
inappropriate influence-peddling within the profession is a “frequent”
or “occasional” problem strongly favour a government-run lobbyist
transparency program. Lobbyists who believe that ethical violations are
“not often” or “never” a problem in the profession tend to favour a
lobbyist transparency program managed by a professional association or
by lobbyists themselves.<br>
<br>
"Where public cynicism in the integrity of government is not so strong,
carefully planned and administered efforts by lobbyists and their
lobbying associations to abide by principles of transparent and honest
policymaking may well be sufficient. In jurisdictions where public
cynicism is more challenging, a stronger set of self-regulations and
regulations may be in order to regain the trust of the citizenry.
Clearly, the “best model” for establishing transparency and
accountability in government to a large extent must be tailor-made for
the political realities of each jurisdiction and country.<br>
<br>
Robert Wechsler<br>
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics<br>
<br>
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