Apr 11, 2008 -- NAM Challenge to New Lobbying Law Dismissed: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

In the age of Jack Abramoff and a growing list of lobbying scandals, we applaud the federal court's decision to keep special interests from concealing their lobbying efforts. The National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) attempt to gut disclosure provisions of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) was a blatant attempt to keep the public in the dark regarding those who spend huge amounts of money to influence policy anonymously. The court recognized clear precedent that the disclosure provision serves the compelling governmental interest in providing full disclosure of lobbying activity and in protecting the integrity of the legislative process.

The court rejected NAM's exaggerated argument that the disclosure of this funding would unconstitutionally burden their speech and lead to reprisals and harassment of their membership. The public deserves to know who is shelling out large sums of money to push, scuttle or alter legislation before Congress and this decision ensures this will happen.

To read the decision, click here.

To read a CLC blog entry on the case, click here.