More than half-way through term, requirements remain the same

Gov. Scott Walker said in his 2010 campaign that he would require lobbyists to report their interactions with state agencies during the procurement process.

Specifically he announced that he would "require lobbyists to report all attempts to influence state agency decisions regarding the awarding of state contracts and grants.”

Past the halfway mark in his term, the lobbying disclosure requirements are unchanged.

Lobbyists currently are not required to disclose work advocating for the award of contracts to their clients. They must report lobbying on legislative bills and agency rules.

Neither Walker nor the Republican-controlled Legislature has acted on broadening the disclosure requirements. A Democratic-sponsored bill that died in committee would have regulated former state officials" lobbying on state procurement decisions.

As for the heightened transparency on contracts, Walker communications director Jocelyn Webster said in late March 2013 that Walker is poised to roll out a website soon called "Open Book” that would make it easier for the public to view state agency spending. The current site is Contract Sunshine.

The new site is in production, Walker's staff has told reporters.

We"ll await the public rollout before we decide whether the site provides the promised "real-time disclosure.”

For now, we rate this Stalled.