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Currently, 8 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 $1000. For example, to register a lobbyist with one client costs $25 in North Dakota and $500 in Texas. Massachusetts charges $1000. 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 Amendment 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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