BALTIMORE — Baltimore has launched a new website as part of the transparency in lobbying act which will allow you to know who does business with your elected officials.
The act, which was introduced by Councilman Zeke Cohen, requires lobbyists to identify their clients and file disclosures twice a year rather than annually.
Cohen said after months working on the bill, he wanted former Mayor Catherine Pugh to sign it, but he said she refused. Pugh resigned in May following controversy around her Healthy Holly book deal.
"What happened with Mayor Pugh can never happen again and I believe this is an affirmative and important step in making sure we know when folks are meeting with public officials, what they are going in for and what they are doing," Cohen said.
If lobbyists fail to register, they will have to pay higher fees or could be banned from city hall for up to three years.
