Stricter rules aimed at bringing the actions of lobbyists into the light may have had the opposite effect, leading policy advocates to avoid declaring themselves as lobbyists.

The number of registered lobbyists had increased steadily in recent years, peaking at about 13,200 in 2007, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Over the past two years, as Congress implemented reforms that included more stringent ethics and disclosure requirements for lobbyists, that number fell by about 2,000.

"All the increasing restrictions on lobbyists are a disincentive to be a lobbyist, and those who think they can deregister are eagerly doing so," said Jan Baran, an attorney who has advised clients hoping to avoid registration. "It is creating some apparent contradictions."

The Union of Concerned Scientists, which advocates on environmental, energy and arms control issues, eliminated the registrations of "virtually all" of its lobbyists, said Stephen Young, a senior analyst for the group. The group used to register almost anyone who conducted work on Capitol Hill.

"We thought: 'Hmm, this is now not such an easy thing. Let's see if we are required to do it. We are not? Let's take them off,'" Young said (David Kirkpatrick, New York Times, Jan. 18). -- GN