Prep school

Here's an interesting detail in the Campbell administration's soon-to-be amended Lobbyists Registration Act. Once that amendment is given royal assent, employees, officers or directors of an organization who spend at least 100 hours annually lobbying the government must register as an in-house lobbyist. But, while debating that legislation, Attorney General Mike de Jong said, "I am not of the view that regulations defining the 100 hours would or should capture" the preparatory work that's done before communicating with a public office holder. By comparison, Under the federal Lobbying Act, in-house lobbyists are defined as those who spend 20 percent of their work hours lobbying, including preparatory work.