It should be good news when the Pennsylvania House of Representatives votes to pass a lobbyist regulation and disclosure law. For about four years, Pennsylvania has had the dubious distinction of being the only state in the nation without a lobbyist disclosure law on the books. And in these four years, the issue of legalized slot machine gambling in the state has probably resulted in more money sloshing around Harrisburg than ever.

So, last week's vote by the state House to pass a lobbyist disclosure bill should be good news. But, the 190-1 vote and other aspects of the legislation raise eyebrows — or should.

It seems clear that a tough and effective lobbyist disclosure law would crimp the style of many state lawmakers in terms of revealing the money, gifts and favors they receive from lobbyists, as well as highlighting the legislation or issues that the lobbyists are attemtping to influence.

Rather than being a near-universal endorsement for strong legislative reform, the 190-1 vote looks like lawmakers saw an opportunity to pass something that could be called lobbyist regulation, but without imposing any real impediments to the way things now work in Harrisburg. The question becomes, "What are they not wanting to tell us?"

Adding to concerns about the effectiveness of the House measure is the fact that longtime reform advocate, state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, was the sole negative vote. Vitali's opposition is based on his belief that the bill does not go far enough in linking lobbying efforts to specific lawmakers and particular bills.

Voters want to be able to follow the money, and Vitali believes this bill won't let them do that.

Rep. John Maher, R-Allegheny, the bill's prime sponsor, praised the bill's passage saying it was "the toughest, most far-reaching proposal that has ever been considered by this legislature."

It's interesting to note Maher's context was Harrisburg, not any comparison to what other states have done. Given that Pennsylvania has been the only state without lobbyist disclosure and reporting laws for four years, the General Assembly should have been able to craft a bill that would include the best and most effective components of other states' efforts. But Maher only said it was the toughest bill considered in Pennsylvania; he said nothing about how this legislation would stack up against other states' laws.

If the 190-1 vote doesn't raise concerns, then a comment from a Philadelphia lawmaker should. Though he ultimately voted in favor of the bill, Democratic Rep. Michael McGeehan was not impressed, saying, "This is fooling the public. This is putting something up there under the guise of reform, and it's not going to change how people act in this chamber or how lobbyists act outside this chamber."

And that is exactly what reform-minded people want — a change in the way lawmakers conduct business inside the Capitol as well as change in the way lobbyists work with the lawmakers on the outside.

Given the middle-of-the-night mischief associated with the controversial pay-raise vote of July 7, 2005, voters should be concerned about this lobbyist legislation when they hear Barry Kauffman, head of the governmental watchdog group Common Cause of Pennsylvania, note, "Here's a bill to protect public integrity, and the actual language they voted on popped up two hours before the vote."

An issue this important should be given a full exposure to public scrutiny and comments or criticism from government watchdog groups before the vote, not after. Once again, Harrisburg lawmakers just don't get it.

Any lobbyist regulation legislation that, if properly designed, would crimp the style of some lawmakers, yet is approved by a 190-1 vote, should cause people to ask questions.

It's a good thing that the state legislature appears to be moving closer to some form of a lobbyist disclosure law. And a less cynical explanation of the lopsided vote might suggest that lawmakers are nervous about voter anger over the pay raise scandal.

Citizens should pay close attention to details of the lobbyist disclosure legislation taking shape in Harrisburg. People wanting real change should make sure that the final version of the lobbyist disclosure law will actually change the way lobbyists (and lawmakers) do business in Harrisburg and is not just an empty, toothless gesture designed more for appearances than effectiveness.