Bill Overview
Title: Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act
Description: This bill requires registered lobbyists to disclose any foreign countries or political parties that are involved in the direction, planning, supervision, or control of the lobbyist's activities.
Sponsors: Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals globally impacted by increased transparency in lobbying
Estimated Size: 332000000
- Lobbyists are directly affected as they need to disclose additional information.
- Citizens and voters benefit through increased transparency about foreign influences in lobbying activities.
- Policymakers may use this additional information in their decision-making.
- Companies and organizations that might rely on lobbyists will have to factor in the impacts of these disclosures.
Reasoning
- The primary group directly impacted by this policy will be lobbyists as they must adjust their reporting and potential relationships with foreign entities, which may incur additional administrative costs and transparency considerations.
- Citizens and voters, while a large group, will have indirect benefits through improved transparency which can lead to a more informed public. Their Cantril wellbeing scores may improve slightly owing to increased trust and reduced skepticism in governmental processes.
- Policymakers can use this information to make informed decisions, although their daily life impact may be minimal. Their wellbeing scores might not fluctuate significantly but there could be a long-term benefit.
- Corporations or organizations using lobbyists may face pressure to maintain transparency or adjust strategies, potentially impacting their operations or public image. Small and medium enterprises using lobbyists may feel this impact more.
- While the policy's budget is limited, it reflects light-touch regulation primarily requiring disclosures rather than direct financial mechanisms which may keep costs low.
- Considering these factors, the simulated interviews will cover a range of individuals from a lobbyist, a voter with interest in public policy, a policymaker, and someone working in a corporation involved in lobbying.
Simulated Interviews
Lobbyist (Washington D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional disclosure might initially increase my workload, but it's manageable.
- Clients might react cautiously with the increased transparency, but it ensures clearer processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step in the right direction for enhancing public trust.
- It will provide analysts like me with more information to work with, although it might not change the overall dynamics that much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
CEO of a medium-sized tech firm (Austin, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased disclosures could slightly affect how we operate with our lobbyists.
- It might not change public perception drastically but could make our board more cautious.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Activist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill aligns with the kind of transparency we need in our political system.
- It's a small win in the larger battle for information and accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
School Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's nice to know who's influencing the people making decisions that affect my life.
- I feel a bit more at ease knowing this information is out there.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Software Developer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe transparency is always good, but I doubt it will translate into immediate changes for individuals like me.
- It's more about the broader system changes that might take place.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It doesn't affect my business operations directly.
- If it helps voters get a clearer picture, that's positive, but I doubt it affects me personally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Retired Policymaker (Boston, MA)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- During my career, we needed more clarity like this.
- This might be helpful for current policymakers, keeping them more accountable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Journalist (Denver, CO)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy provides more material for us to scrutinize.
- Hopefully, it will create a less opaque environment in political reporting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
University Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 26 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being informed about who influences our policies is crucial.
- It makes me feel more engaged as a citizen.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- Enforcement and monitoring will require ongoing resources to manage compliance and ensure truthful reporting by lobbyists.
- The act enhances governmental transparency, which could have a broader socio-economic benefit by promoting more informed decision-making.
- There might be resistance from lobbyists or foreign entities that previously benefited from opaque influence operations.