LOBBYISTS COMING OUT OF THE CAPITOL WOODWORK

Four years ago, the Missouri General Assembly took its first serious look at lobbyists and their clients. But it wasn't until 1991 that legislators approved rules with teeth as a way to ward off political corruption.

The result of these new regulations is an expanding number of lobbyists in Jefferson City. The number of lobbyists went from 973 just a year ago to 2,168 today.

This skyrocketing number isn't altogether bad.

Most of these people were already lobbying the General Assembly. The new legislation requires official designation and financial accounting.

While this additional paperwork threatens to swamp an already overworked Missouri Ethics Commission, it still serves a critical purpose. This data informs both citizens and legislators about who considers themselves lobbyists and for whom they work.

Full disclosure provides a reasonable accounting for political action committees and lobbyists. In this way, money can be directly linked with votes.

But the commission should also help the state weed out true violations from sheer silliness. A single chat or letter to a legislator on a particular issue shouldn't require lobbyist status. Common sense should prevail.

These new regulations provide additional insight on groups working to wield more influence in Jefferson City. These lobbyists work for an assortment of clients, state agencies, corporations and businesses, professional and citizens' groups and organizations.

And some of these lobbyists spend big bucks on legislative perks.

Southwestern Bell was the state's leading lobbyist in terms of spending in 1993. Ethics agency reports show the phone company spent more than $65,000 on gifts and meals for state lawmakers.

Spending alone doesn't signal wrongdoing. PACS and lobbyists have long been part of America's political system at both the state and national levels.

But full disclosure will reveal whether these gifts bought special favors.

The new regulations, which took effect Jan. 1, 1992, require two new reports: The first registers a lobbyist and his or her principal clients. It also requires the lobbyist to mark whether he or she plans to spend more or less than $50 during the next six months. The second is a semiannual expenditure report. It requires the lobbyist to list specific amounts spent along with legislative recipients. These financial reports are due each July 15.

Lobbyists already are required to file monthly expense reports with Senate and House clerks. But these new reports go directly to the ethics commission. Discrepancies and complaints are investigated by the six-member commission, which was established by the 1991 legislation.

Reporting alone won't guarantee lobbyist and legislator honesty.

The General Assembly must ensure that the state ethics commission has the manpower to process the growing paperwork. Only then will there be time to analyze money spent with legislative outcomes.