There is no shortage of big-issues facing lawmakers in Harrisburg: Bills are being considered on legalizing slot machines, tort reform, school funding and medical malpractice. There might be no shortage of big issues, but there is a shortage of information about what lobbying firms are trying to influence the legislation, and how much money they are spending to do it.

Pennsylvania is the only state without laws regulating and requiring registration of lobbying activities. A law, believed by many to be reasonably effective, was passed in Harrisburg in 1998, but in 2002 it was struck down by the courts responding to a lawsuit filed by lawyers who also worked as lobbyists and claimed parts of the 1998 were unconstitutional.

Bills designed to shed Pennsylvania's dubious distinction as the only state in the nation not currently registering and regulating lobbyists are pending the House and Senate. Common Cause of Pennsylvania, a good-government advocacy group, is urging state lawmakers to approve an effective lobbying with "registration, disclosure and regulatory provisions."

Citizens deserve to know what special-interest groups are working in Harrisburg to influence the laws of Pennsylvania. Citizens deserve to know who is doing the lobbying, what lawmakers they are appealing to - and how much money they are spending.

In addition to urging lawmakers to pass new lobbying disclosure and regulation laws, Common Cause is also working to encourage lawmakers to approve the most effective form of the law, adopting the best rules and regulations already in place in other states.

With the money at stake in laws related to slot machines, tort reform, school funding or medical malpractice, voters can only imagine the millions of dollars being spent on lobbying in Harrisburg.

And that is a serious problem - voters can only imagine. Lobbying regulation laws are needed to reveal details about the people and money involved in trying to influence state law.

Most citizens would like to believe that elected officials are always working on behalf of the best interests of the their constituents and that they are not compromised or unduly influenced by lobbying efforts. Strict laws relating to registration, disclosure and regulation of lobbying of state lawmakers as well as powerful agencies, such as the Public Utility Commission, Turnpike Commission and Insurance Commission, would go a long way toward shining sunlight on the lawmaking process.

As Barry Kauffman, executive Director of Common Cause, noted, sunshine is considered a most effective disinfectant. And a strong lobbying law in Pennsylvania will allow the sunshine of press and citizen awareness to penetrate the process of making laws and regulations - now largely taking place in darkness.

State lawmakers should be ashamed of their failure to quickly replace the flawed lobbying law struck down by the courts. They should, as Common Cause is urging, pass a new lobbying law before summer recess.