|
NAM discloses member list |
|
By Kevin Bogardus
|
|
Posted: 05/01/08 06:31 PM [ET] |
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) disclosed certain member companies on Thursday after failing to win a reprieve from the U.S. Supreme Court.
The manufacturing group has challenged the legality of language in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 that requires groups to release the names of members that contribute $5,000 a quarter to the coalition’s lobbying efforts and actively participate in its lobbying activities.
NAM has argued that the lobbying disclosure requirements hinder the group’s First Amendment rights to petition the government. NAM’s original lawsuit was dismissed, however. But the trade group has appealed the decision in the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The manufacturing group had asked the Supreme Court to allow it to keep its member list secret until the Court of Appeals had ruled on its case. But Chief Justice John Roberts denied that request last week, forcing the trade association to amend its lobbying disclosure report this quarter.
Failure to comply with the new law carries stiff new penalties: a $200,000 fine and a maximum five years in prison.
NAM disclosed the identities of 65 of its members on its website. Major corporations, such as AT&T and ExxonMobil, as well as other trade associations, like the American Petroleum Institute and the Edison Electric Institute, were included on the list.
|
