Good government requires legislators who keep their door open, but in North Carolina that door is often graced by lobbyists who for too long have had a free rein to throw money at lawmakers. A coalition of both liberal and conservative organizations hope to tighten up the Tar Heel state’s lobbying regulations, and two bills have been introduced to tighten the state’s lax laws.

The problem of lobbyists having undue influence cuts both ways. Most people have little affinity for the hired guns who try to convince lawmakers that their clients — whether it be a giant utility, a bank or whatever — need their support to get a law passed.

It’s the other side of this equation that goes to the heart of the problem: how much are our lawmakers influenced by the access many of these lobbyists gain by throwing parties, hosting dinners and giving gifts? You meet someone the night before at a party, the next day they stick their head in your office and ask for a minute of your time. It’s naïve to think that a simple meal will buy a vote, but the meal is just the foot in the door.

According to the N.C. Coalition for Lobbying Reform, North Carolina ranks below most Southern states and the nation in having laws that put lobbyists and members of the public on a level playing field. The coalition’s founder, Bob Phillips of Common Cause NC, says voters have a right to know about the relationship between their elected officials and those who are paid to influence them. Here are some of the problems with this state’s lobbying laws:

• Lobbyists may spend unlimited amounts of money on lawmakers and most of it goes unreported due to the “goodwill lobbying” loophole. This loophole says that no reporting is required when lobbyists entertain lawmakers and do not discuss legislation.

• Lobbyists are only required to report expenditures on lawmakers when specific legislation is discussed.

• Lobbyists have no limits on what they may spend on executive branch officials, legislative staff or lawmakers’ immediate families. They also don’t have to report these expenditures.

• Lawmakers have no waiting period before becoming a registered lobbyist. Twenty-eight other states do have waiting periods.

The coalition wants every penny spent lobbying legislators and executive branch officials reported, limits on gifts and spending on lawmakers, and a cooling off period before lawmakers may become lobbyists.

Look, if lobbying didn’t work then corporations would have stopped the practice long ago. These large companies obviously get a return on their investment, and it is huge. According to the N.C. Common Sense Foundation, lobbyists spent $38,160 per legislator in 2004. And since lobbying reporting laws are so lax, the figure is probably much higher.

The truth is that lobbyists should not be able to give lawmakers any gifts, trips or even host parties. It may be a long time before we go that far, but at the very least we need to enact the tougher reporting laws sought by this coalition.