Oregon Bill Would Require Lobbyists To Publicly State Positions On Measures

NWNews | By Chris Lehman

Published April 6, 2017 at 5:21 PM PDT

Lobbyists in Oregon would have to publicly disclose their positions on bills they're trying to influence under a measure approved by the state House Thursday.

"I believe the public deserves to know about what is influencing the development of policy within this building,” said the measure’s chief sponsor, Corvallis Democratic Rep. Dan Rayfield.

The lobbyist disclosures would be available online for the public to sort through.

Opponents said the information could be confusing since lobbyists often change positions after a bill is amended.

The measure passed 52-3 and now heads to the Oregon Senate.

Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman

Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.

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