Steps Proposed to Put Teeth Into Lobbyist Reporting Law

Angered by lackadaisical compliance with Los Angeles County’s lobbyist registration ordinance, supervisors Michael Antonovich and Gloria Molina proposed separate measures Monday to force lobbyists to comply with the law and document their activities.

Antonovich will introduce a motion in today’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors that would ban official contacts with lobbyists who do not obey the law, said spokesman Dawson Oppenheimer.

Last week, The Times reported that many lobbyists are not complying with provisions in the ordinance requiring that they list which firms they represent, how much they are paid for their services and what official actions they are attempting to influence.

Supervisor Gloria Molina is expected to introduce today a motion that would strengthen the ordinance, adding new reporting requirements and civil penalties. Under Molina’s proposal, lobbyists would be fined $2,100 for failure to comply with the law.

Molina’s ordinance would also require lobbyists to report gifts and campaign contributions to supervisors and would require firms that hire lobbyists to register as well. Failure to comply with the proposed law could also lead to the cancellation of a firm’s contract with the county.

“The public needs to know that the Board of Supervisors is not subject to undue influence from paid lobbyists,” said Robert Alaniz, Molina’s spokesman.

The Antonovich and Molina motions are expected to come up for discussion at the board’s March 23 meeting.

The current lobbying law carries no fines. Lobbyists who do not comply with the ordinance can only be prevented from addressing the board until they register. County officials have said they have no staff to enforce the law’s provisions.

Antonovich, who authored the ordinance last July, said he was distressed by the poor compliance.

“This has led to my personal decision to issue an order to all members of my 5th District staff to refuse to meet with or deal with any lobbyists . . . unless they provide adequate proof that they are in compliance,” Antonovich said.