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: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Target Audience
Population: People who work as registered lobbyists
Estimated Size: 12000
- The bill targets registered lobbyists who engage in activities influenced by foreign entities.
- There might be indirect impacts on foreign governments and political parties trying to influence US policies through lobbying.
- The general public in the US could benefit from increased transparency in lobbying activities, which may influence policy decisions.
- Companies and organizations that employ lobbyists might experience changes in how they report foreign affiliations.
- Politicians and decision-makers could use the disclosures to assess the influence of foreign entities.
Reasoning
- The budget and target population suggest a focus on registered lobbyists and their immediate environment, meaning the direct impact will be on these individuals rather than the general public.
- There are potential indirect benefits for the general public who could experience increased trust in the lobbying process due to enhanced transparency.
- Potential long-term effects include changes in lobbyist strategies and increased scrutiny on foreign influence, which may influence the wellbeing of lobbyists differently depending on their affiliations.
- The bill's focus means the direct benefits may not extend beyond the registered lobbyist population in terms of wellbeing, influencing how the impact is evaluated across years.
- Given the budget constraints and target population, the policy may indirectly affect lobbyists financially tied to foreign entities.
Simulated Interviews
Registered Lobbyist (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned this policy might make my work more challenging, with additional paperwork and scrutiny.
- It could lead to a loss of some clients who prefer discretion over disclosure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Registered Lobbyist (New York, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think transparency is important but I don't have much foreign influence in my lobbying work.
- The policy might not affect me directly, but it could change the landscape.
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 |
Registered Lobbyist (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It seems like a good step towards transparency, but I'm worried about managing the additional disclosures.
- Could potentially improve my reputation if clients see compliance as a positive.
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 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Registered Lobbyist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not much foreign involvement for me, so this bill won't directly change much.
- Hopefully, it clears the air and builds the industry's reputation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Registered Lobbyist (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My concern is the possible administrative burden affecting smaller entities like ours.
- It could also help highlight our clean partnerships and ethical commitment.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Registered Lobbyist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could make it hard for startups to navigate regulatory challenges.
- On the flip side, it may level the playing field by limiting unfair foreign competition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Registered Lobbyist (Boston, MA)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe increased disclosure is the right move. It might improve public trust.
- For me personally, this bill doesn't change 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 |
Registered Lobbyist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Navigating international collaborations could get tricky.
- Long term, this could improve trust in our partnerships.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Registered Lobbyist (Miami, FL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transparency is good, but I am worried about the costs of implementation.
- This might impact smaller and mid-sized foreign partnerships.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Registered Lobbyist (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While it seems like a sensible policy, it won't affect me much at this stage of my career.
- If anything, it might improve the industry's reputation.
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 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 3: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 5: $4500000 (Low: $3500000, High: $5500000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The administrative burden on regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing lobbying activities.
- The compliance costs for registered lobbyists, which might indirectly affect foreign economic influence.
- Potentially improved transparency and public trust in government processes.