Regulation cannot be mixed with defense of lobbyists, since the approved proposal rules about control mechanisms on the activity

On Wednesday, (11/26) the Committee for Labor, Administration and Public Service approved the Bill 1202/07, proposed by Deputy Carlos Zarattini (PT-SP), which regulates the actuation of lobbies and pressure groups on bodies of federal administration. The report, which was favorable to the proposal, was presented by Deputy Milton Monti (PR-SP).

He highlights that the actuation of lobbies needs to be ruled by law in order to render it more transparent and to deal equally with different pressure groups that act inside public administration. “The project will bring more morality, since it will prevent harmful practices, by defining clear rules for that activity”, says Monti.

Control
According to him, regulation cannot be mixed with defense of lobbyists, since the approved proposal rules about control mechanisms on the activity, such as the requirement of approval at the body where they actuate and the possibility that the lobbyist be called to explain about his work. The call notice can be made by the president of the Chamber or of the Senate, by the minister of State, and by the president of the Federal Audit Court (TCU).

Furthermore, the bill determines that, at the end of each year, the lobbyists approved in any government body should submit to the Federal Audit Court (TCU) a declaration discriminating their activities, the nature of the subjects of their interest and the expenses made during the year, linked to their professional actuation, especially payments to people and corporations.

Monti reminds that some countries have already regulated the actuation of pressure groups. According to the rapporteur´s opinion, the lobby activity is part of modern democracies, although in Brazil it is seen with restrictions. “In a stable democracy, such as in developed countries, the performance of honest and transparent lobbying, with trustworthy information and qualified representation helps to perfect government policies adopted by the State”, he affirms.

Procedure
The Project was deemed conclusive character and will be analyzed by the Committee for Constitution and Justice and Citizenship.

Report- Janary Júnior
Editing - Marcos Rossi