On May 17, Reps. Marty Meehan (D-MA) and Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) formally filed H.R. 2412, the Special Interest Lobbying and Ethics Accountability Act (SILEA). The bill would amend the Lobby Disclosure Act of 1995 (LDA), which requires organizations that engage in a certain amount of lobbying activity to register and file disclosure reports. Of particular concern to nonprofits are four provisions that would increase disclosure requirements.

H.R. 2412 includes no general exemption for nonprofit organizations except churches and their integrated auxiliaries. The bill focuses on four main areas of reform: enhancing lobby disclosure, slowing the revolving door between former members of Congress and lobbying firms, curbing excesses in privately funded travel, and strengthening enforcement and oversight of ethics and lobbying disclosure.

The provisions that increase disclosure would require more frequent filing of reports, disclosure of coalition membership and grassroots lobbying costs. It also would require electronic filing of LDA reports. For details of the bill's provisions see our summary

The bill currently has more than 60 Democratic cosponsors, but so far lacks any Republican support. Meehan is continuing to seek Republican cosponsors for the bill. However, House Republicans, whose ties to lobbyists have received intense media scrutiny, have been cool to the proposal. They are also reluctant to work with Emanuel, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). However, GOP leaders have not completely dismissed the calls for reform of the lobbying rules. Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), chairman of the House Administration Committee, has stated that he is interested in many provisions of the bill and would consider working with Meehan. Additionally, Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) is reportedly considering offering companion legislation in the Senate.