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Currently, about a dozen States and both houses of Congress do not require any fees for lobbyist or client registrations. Most States charge lobbyists
a fee in the $25-$35 range. The fees that States charge range from $10 to $400. For example, to register a lobbyist with one client costs $25 in North Dakota and $700 in Illinois. Massachusetts charges an entity a
thousand dollars. We believe there is no good reason why some States charge hundreds of dollars when others charge little. These States can be shown to be in violation of the First Amemdment if they can't show that
their fees are in direct relation to their cost to register lobbyists. If some States only need to charge $10, and most charge $35 or less, then how can other States like Massachusetts charge as much as $1000? These
States are in conflict with the First Amendment. Free speech is clearly not free in Massachusetts.
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