LOS ANGELES : City Hall Gives Lobbyists a Lesson on New Laws

Some of the city’s most powerful lobbyists descended on Los Angeles City Hall on Thursday to learn about--not influence--some new city legislation.

The city Ethics Commission held an information session on the city’s lobbying ordinance, which requires more comprehensive financial reporting.

There will be far fewer lobbyists--about 70 instead of 300--under the city’s new definition. The revised law says lobbyists are those who make $4,000 a quarter influencing city legislation. Occasional advocates who are paid small sums for their work are not considered lobbyists.

The law, which took effect last month, also attempts to gather information on the many lawyers who have refused to register as lobbyists, citing lawyer-client privilege. Now, some clients will be required to report the attorneys they have hired to represent them.

Some of the three dozen lobbyists in the group grumbled that the new requirements were overly bureaucratic. But ethics staffer LeeAnn Pelham said: “These are sophisticated people. We really don’t see this as a record-keeping nightmare.”