Senate considers relaxing reporting requirements for lobbyists

Jennifer Coleman

Thursday, April 22, 1999 | 9:46 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Lobbyists wouldn't have to report what they spend to wine and dine lawmakers at group events as long as all legislators are invited, under a bill being studied by a Senate panel.

Assemblywoman Gene Segerblom, D-Boulder City, says she authored AB518 to encourage lawmakers to go to parties, dinners or other events sponsored by lobbyists.

Segerblom told the Senate Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday that AB518 would still require lobbyists who throw group events to declare what they spend - but they wouldn't have to name the lawmakers who show up.

"This doesn't include going out to a fancy dinner with a lobbyist. That's a good report," Segerblom said. She said the problem with the requirement as it is written is that it's a hassle to determine the amount spent per person.

The formula doesn't seem too difficult, however. For example, if 10 lawmakers attend a group event that costs $1,000 and draws 100 people, the per-head cost would be $10. Each legislator now is listed as getting food or drink worth $10, under current requirements.

Supporters of the bill included some of the top-spending lobbyists, including the Nevada Taxpayers Association, Utility Shareholders Association of Nevada and the University of Nevada, Reno.

"It puts the legislators in the position of not attending because they don't want to see their name in the paper," said Carole Vilardo, president of the NTA.

Some legislators take care of that by simply attending and then reimbursing the organizations that invited them.

Vilardo also asked to make the bill apply retroactively to the beginning of the session. "I'd like to be able to return all those checks (from legislators) I've gotten," she added.

Lobbyists would still have to list the dollar value of one-on-one meetings between lawmakers and lobbyists, typically over lunch or dinner.

Any gifts over $2 also have to be reported, though advocates suggested the limit be raised to $5 or $10.

Both reporting requirements create problems for smaller groups also, said Lucille Lusk of Nevada Concerned Citizens.

"We truly have no vested interest. We don't have any money and don't spend any money on anyone," she said. "It's just common sense. The level of detail is truly a bookkeeping nightmare."

Vilardo said she can't give lawmakers a brochure that costs more than $3 to produce without reporting the expense.

No one spoke against the bill, but at earlier Assembly hearings, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada opposed the measure and said the existing reporting requirements are being ignored by some high-powered lobbyists.

AB518 was approved by the Assembly earlier this month. Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, cast one of only two votes against the bill, saying it subverts the original intent of the reporting rules by letting lobbyists spend an unlimited amount of money for an event without requiring a per-lawmaker itemization.