Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, right, speaks with Press Secretary Marshall Guest on the House Floor, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at the State Capitol in Atlanta. Speaker Ralston introduced legislation Tuesday calling for a total prohibition on what lobbyists can spend while trying to influence legislators. Right now, lobbyists can give as many gifts as they like if they disclose their spending on lawmakers. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Lobbying Slideshow
House Speaker David Ralston said Thursday that he is revising his legislation so that people who lobby at the Statehouse for five days or less will not have to register as a lobbyist. Ralston said in an interview that he never intended to make people pay a fee to approach their own lawmakers or express their personal views.
His new plan would reduce the lobbying registration fee from $300 to $25.
Critics earlier faulted Ralston’s bill because they said it would require too many people who only occasionally visit the Capitol to pay the registration fee and report lobbying expenditures.
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