SPRINGFIELD –  Seeking to shut down loopholes in state lobbying laws, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is advancing legislation that requires more information be publicly disclosed on exactly who the multitude of Capitol lobbyists are working for.

Springfield lobbyists are required by law to report the names of their clients along with any expenditure made on their behalf. This information is posted online and available to the public.

A commonly used loophole in the law, however, allows lobbyists whose clients are other lobbyists to not specify the actual beneficiary of their work. Morrison’s measure would close this loophole by requiring all beneficiaries to be disclosed.

“Increasing the amount of information available to the public is always a good thing,” Morrison said. “Fully disclosing who a lobbyist is actually working for is the real intent of our current law. Expanding the disclosure requirement to include the sometimes multiple layers of lobbying will fulfill this intent and is a good government move for Illinois.”

Morrison’s proposal won unanimous support from the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday and now advances to the full Senate for consideration.