State lawmakers eye more transparency for lobbyists

DOVER, Del. (AP) — State lawmakers have introduced bills requiring lobbyists in Delaware to pay an annual registration fee and to disclose how much they are being paid by their clients for their work influencing legislative or administrative action.

Legislation introduced Tuesday also would eliminate a provision in existing state law that exempts members of the General Assembly from public integrity laws governing other state employees. The bill also explicitly prohibits the use of public resources for political activities, private personal gain, or private benefit of another person.

A third open-government measure introduced Tuesday requires political committees for state and local candidates to list occupations and employment information for campaign donors, as is already required under federal campaign finance law. Under current law, candidates must report only the names and addresses of donors.