face="Arial">North Carolina lawmakers no longer would be able to leave public office and immediately become lobbyists under a bill (S.B. 612) approved by the state Legislature Aug. 24. Under S.B. 612, which has been sent to Gov. Mike Easley (D) for his consideration, a "cooling off" period would be imposed for the first time on public officials in North Carolina before they could become lobbyists. The bill would require that former lawmakers and state officials wait at least six months before working as a lobbyist. The pending lobbying reform bill also would extend lobbying restrictions imposed on contact with legislators to cover the lobbying of top executive branch officials. The measure also would close a "goodwill loophole" by requiring the reporting of all spending, including gifts, of more than $10 to individual legislators. Currently, lobbyists may spend money on lawmakers as long as specific legislation is not discussed. S.B. 612 also would require more frequent disclosures of lobbying activities and increase penalties for violating state lobbying laws. Currently, lobbyists must report on their expenditures to the secretary of state twice a year. The pending bill would require monthly reports when the Legislature is in session and quarterly when it is not meeting. In April, a report by a public interest group found that North Carolina's restrictions on lobbyists were among the loosest in the Southeast. A bipartisan group of individuals and organizations has been urging the state Legislature to tighten the state's lobbying laws. If approved by Easley, the bulk of the lobbying reform bill's provisions would become effective Jan. 1, 2007. For more information