lobbyists

A turreted brick home known as The Castle. A tan bungalow. An 111-year-old corner house with a covered porch.

Just south of the state Capitol building you’ll find a neighborhood dotted with quaint, historic houses. But you won’t find families with children in many of them.

Lobbyists play a key role in political fundraising. Just consider the invitation to a fundraiser Wednesday night for the Speaker and the Majority Leader of the Washington state House.

It’s been 44 years since Washington voters approved an initiative to require the disclosure of campaign contributions – and 24 years since voters enacted limits on campaign donations. Now comes a proposal to update those laws and usher in a new era of publicly-financed elections.

Washington lawmakers are on the honor system when it comes to accepting free meals from lobbyists.

Nearly two years after public radio and the Associated Press investigated lobbyist-paid meals for Washington lawmakers, the issue is still a topic of discussion in the legislature.

Washington’s Legislative Ethics Board has capped the number of free meals lawmakers can accept from lobbyists.

In Washington, D.C., there’s a waiting period before members of Congress and their staffers can work as lobbyists.

Environmentalists, unions, trial lawyers and business interests may be among the top political spenders in Washington this election year, but there’s a group of influential players who don’t necessarily show up in the campaign finance reports.

Starting in January, Washington lawmakers will be barred from accepting more than 12 lobbyist-paid meals per year.

Washington’s Legislative Ethics Board voted Tuesday to allow lawmakers to accept a dozen lobbyist-paid meals per year, but no more.