NEW YORK, NY February 16, 2006 —Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn have agreed on a package of lobbying reforms. They say they're making the changes before a scandal occurs. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein has more.

REPORTER: For the last 20 years, New York City laws have required lobbyists to file regular disclosure reports. But those reports have been kept in a little-used file cabinet and are rarely up to date. And there are no investigators and no penalties if the law isn't followed.

Now Mayor Bloomberg says, that will change.

BLOOMBERG: We're determined to have real reforms with real teeth. This is not going to be a press conference and a sham where we pass rules we all know wink wink can't be enforced.

REPORTER: The new rules include tighter restrictions on gifts-giving, internet disclosure, and resources to actually enforce the law. Good government groups say they're pleased with the measures, but want the Mayor to also consider banning lobbying by political consultants, which San Francisco has done For WNYC, I'm Andrea Bernstein.