Why underreport lobbying income?

Why would a lobbyist underreport?

Former top lobbyist Don Beason is being investigated by the N.C. Secretary of State for potentially underreporting his lobbying income.

That's led some Dome readers to ask why a lobbyist would do that.

Here are a few possible reasons:

EVERYONE DOES IT. Clients seek advice on political ads, who to support in elections and how to frame an issue for the public. Some of that is legitimately considered consulting.

TO HELP THE CLIENT. To much of the public, "lobbying" is a dirty word. If a lobbyist reported earning a lot, the client's opponents could use that as an attack.

COMPETITIVE SECRETS. If you told the state how much you earned for a given client, another firm could come in and offer to do the same job for less.

JUST BECAUSE. Some lobbyists make a career out of pushing the legal limits. If the state has a loophole that allows them to underreport, they're going to use it.

Have another theory? Post it below or e-mail dome@newsobserver.com.