Welch lists on LinkedIn account that he does local and state lobbying in the State of Florida.
Is Welch a registered lobbyist in the State of Florida? NO as of 5/13/2019 and never has been!
Has Welch been paid to do lobbying activities YES, is he registered NO, has he ever done a full disclosure of activities when lobbying NO ……. Has he broken the law YES …..
Welsh list himself as the Managing Partner of Building Industry Issues of Southwest Florida, LLC is a multi-facet organization that specializes in diverse areas:
1) Business development for commercial construction with a special interest in senior living communities. Special emphasis on non-profit/Catholic/religious sponsored projects
2) Business development for several companies and entities in South Florida.
3) Local and state lobbying in the State of Florida
4) Managing and advising local and state political campaigns.
Should the membership and the board of the Greater Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce be worried about Mr. Welch lobbying activities since he is the current Chairman of the board?
Should the board’s members of the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District and voters of Lehigh Acres wonder why this man is breaking the law?
If an individual qualifies as a “lobbyist” or an activity counts as “lobbying” based on the definitions of these terms, a whole host of laws may come into effect. Registration, disclosures, gift restrictions and prohibitions – all of these and more depend on the definitions of lobbying and lobbyist.
States generally define lobbying as an attempt to influence government action through either written or oral communication.
State of Florida defines lobbying and Lobbyist as the following:
“Lobbying” means influencing or attempting to influence legislative action or nonaction through oral or written communication or an attempt to obtain the goodwill of a member or employee of the Legislature. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 11.045.
“Lobbyist” means a person who is employed and receives payment, or who contracts for economic consideration, for the purpose of lobbying, or a person who is principally employed for governmental affairs by another person or governmental entity to lobby on behalf of that other person or governmental entity. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 11.045.
Does not include (1) an attorney who represents a client in a judicial proceeding or in a formal administrative proceeding or any other formal hearing before an agency, board, commission, or authority of this state; (2) an employee of an agency or legislative or judicial branch entity acting in the normal course of his or her duties; (3) a confidential informant providing confidential information to be used for law enforcement purposes; a person who lobbies to procure a contract less than $20,000. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 112.3215 & 287.017.