The Corporate Lobbying Reform act

Liberty Justice
1

Bill Title: The Corporate Lobbying Reform Act

Section 1: Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to reduce the influence of corporate lobbying on government decision-making and to ensure that the interests of the American people are prioritized in the legislative process.

Section 2: Definitions

  • Corporate Lobbying: Any attempt by a corporation or its representatives to influence legislation, regulations, or governmental policies.
  • Lobbyist: Any individual who is employed by or acts on behalf of a corporation for the purpose of lobbying.
  • Corporation: Any legal entity, including but not limited to corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, that is organized for profit.

Section 3: Lobbying Regulations

  1. Prohibition of Corporate Lobbying:

    • No corporation shall engage in lobbying efforts aimed at influencing legislation or governmental policies at the federal, state, or local level.

  2. Restrictions on Lobbyists:

    • Individuals employed by corporations to influence policy shall not be permitted to lobby government officials.
    • All current corporate lobbyists must register as non-profit organizations if they wish to continue advocating for policy changes.

  3. Transparency Requirements:

    • Any organization engaging in lobbying activities must disclose their funding sources, expenditures, and specific lobbying efforts to the public.

Section 4: Penalties

  1. Violations:

    • Any corporation found to be in violation of this Act shall be subject to fines up to $1 million for each offense.
    • Individuals acting as lobbyists for corporations shall face civil penalties, including fines and potential disqualification from future lobbying activities.

  2. Whistleblower Protections:

    • Employees of corporations who report violations of this Act shall be protected from retaliation and may receive financial rewards for their disclosures.

Section 5: Enforcement

  1. Establishment of Oversight Committee:

    • An independent Oversight Committee shall be established to monitor compliance with this Act, investigate violations, and implement necessary reforms.

  2. Annual Reporting:

    • The Oversight Committee shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing compliance, violations, and recommendations for further reform.

Section 6: Effective Date
This Act shall take effect six months after its enactment.

Section 7: Severability
If any provision of this Act is found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions shall continue to be effective.

This draft serves as a foundational framework for a bill aimed at regulating corporate lobbying. It would need to be refined and reviewed by legal experts and lawmakers before being introduced in a legislative context.

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