Ill. Lobbying Registration On Hold
Lawsuit over increased fees for non-profits.
The state temporarily has stopped registering lobbyists, leaving the public without official information about who's trying to influence lawmakers about what issues.
The process of registering lobbyists is on hold as a lawsuit over higher fees plays out in Chicago. The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state over its plans to increase fees on registered lobbyists.
ACLU spokesman Ed Yohnka said increased fees on nonprofit lobbying is taxing free speech.
"That really isn't permissible," he said.
A court decision temporarily blocked the fee increases for some lobbyists. But until a final decision is reached, the secretary of state's office won't know which fees it should charge some people, said spokesman Henry Haupt.
For that reason, Illinois lobbyists don't yet have to register for 2010.
