New ethics rules may require trade groups and organizations to disclose their lobbying activity and membership, a provision that associations say violates privacy rules and could harm their advocacy efforts. The provision in the new congressional ethics bill, which passed the Senate in an 83-14 vote on Aug. 2, would require organizations to disclose who is paying for and participating in lobbying activities. Membership can be a closely held secret for many organizations and they worry that the new rules would force them to disclose the identity of member companies. “We don’t share who is a member of NAM,” said J.P. Fielder, senior director of media relations at the… Read More