* 5:15 pm - Gov. Pat Quinn has just filed several amendatory vetoes, including one of the procurement reform legislation. Quinn’s changes to the procurement bill are mostly minor, but this might foreshadow a broader AV of the much-maligned campaign finance bill, which is still on his desk.

The governor proposed some changes to a couple of other bills which started new programs. The amendatory vetoes of HB2445 and HB2547 (a proposal to give the Department of Human Rights jurisdiction to “consider charges of severe bullying”) would enact the programs subject only to legislative appropriations. Seems reasonable.

Quinn also AV’d legislation which creates a commission to maximize federal Medicaid dollars, claiming that the deadline for appointing members (which has already passed) “is too soon to allow for a thorough vetting of candidates.”

* The governor signed another ethics bill into law, this one pertaining to lobbyists and state employees. Bethany has the complete list, but here’s the lobster stuff…

New lobbying rules:

* People who lobby state boards, commissions or retirement boards now will have to register as lobbyists.
* All lobbyists will have to abide by stricter disclosure requirements, including listing all expenditures related to lobbying activities, their clients and the subject matter of lobbying activities. The reports will have to be filed with the secretary of state on a weekly basis when the legislature is in session and monthly during the off-season.
* Many will have to pay a higher $1,000 fee, which is the way the state is expected to pay for more inspectors to monitor lobbying activities. House Speaker Michael Madigan previously said he would consider lowering the fee for smaller nonprofit groups in the future.