Supervisors Seek Registration of Lobbyists

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ordered the drafting of an ordinance that would require registration of lobbyists--a powerful but largely invisible force whose dealings with county government have never been exposed to public scrutiny.

The proposal was introduced by conservative Supervisor Michael Antonovich in a surprising election-year move. Approved unanimously by the board without discussion, the motion instructs county attorneys to draft an ordinance modeled on a 1974 state law.

Supporters of the measure say it is long overdue in a county with a $12-billion budget, where developers and other private interest groups are a significant presence at the Hall of Administration.

Firms have been known to pay lobbyists tens of thousands of dollars to drum up support for development projects and pending legislation by meeting privately with supervisors and quietly influencing their decisions.

“The public has a right to know who is influencing public policy decisions,” said Lisa Foster, executive director of California Common Cause.

Foster called the proposed ordinance an important first step in county ethics reform.

State law requires lobbyists to submit periodic reports of their salaries and all expenses they incur in trying to influence legislators. When they register with the state, lobbyists are photographed and their pictures are placed in a directory.

State law also limits to $10 the value of gifts lobbyists can make to legislators. It was not clear Tuesday whether the county would incorporate that measure into its draft ordinance.

County Counsel De Witt Clinton declined to comment on what measures would be included in the draft ordinance.

Dawson Oppenheimer, a spokesman for Antonovich, said the supervisor’s proposal was meant to address “a lack of confidence in government” caused by reports of malfeasance by members of Congress and others.

Lobbyist registration is only part of a wide-ranging ethics reform package first put forward by Supervisor Gloria Molina. Last week, Molina called for public hearings on her ethics proposals, which include limits on campaign spending and on gifts to county officials.

Molina said lobbyist registration was the least controversial element of her ethics reform package. Still, she said she was “pleasantly shocked” to hear Antonovich support a measure she first proposed earlier this year.

“Sometimes you can make things happen by doing them yourself or by inspiring others to move forward,” Molina said. “I hope this means a new direction for this man (Antonovich) and for the board.”