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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Washington Legislature. Austin Jenkins is the Olympia correspondent for the Northwest News Network. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) weekly public affairs program "Inside Olympia."

66 Washington Lobbyists Get Warning Letter

OLYMPIA, Wash. – More than 60 lobbyists in Washington have been sent warning letters. That’s because they failed to submit monthly reports that detail how much they earned and how much they spent to lobby state lawmakers.

The warning letters come from Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission. Here's a flavor of what the out-of-compliance lobbyists received in their mailboxes.

“This letter is the only formal warning you will receive from PDC staff for not filing timely lobbying reports during 2013.”

After that, come the fines. $150 to start. $300 for a second violation.

The PDC’s Lori Anderson says lobbyist reports are supposed to make the legislative process more transparent to the public.

“They can see who has hired a lobbyist and what particular issues different companies are lobbying. They can check out who is being entertained in connection with lobbying, which legislators are being entertained.”

The agency has not yet released a list of which lobbyists got the warning letters, but the 66 who did represent less than 8 percent of the lobbyists registered in Washington.

On the Web:

Washington Lobbyist information - Public Disclosure Commission 

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."