HARRISBURG -- It took him more than three years, but Gov. Ed Rendell has finally imposed registration and financial disclosure rules for lobbyists who try to influence the executive branch of government.

Mr. Rendell, who took office in January 2003, said he didn't make this move until yesterday because he thought the state Legislature would have approved a new lobbyist regulation law by now.

Such a law would cover the state House, state Senate and the executive branch, as did a previous lobbyist law that was struck down by the state Supreme Court in December 2002.

Mr. Rendell said he has gotten "tired of waiting" for the state House to act. A lobbyist registration bill was passed by the Senate last year but the House hasn't acted.

House Speaker John Perzel has named a committee to draft another lobbyist registration law but it isn't know when, or if, the House will vote on it.

The state Senate imposed its own rules for registration and financial reporting by lobbyists in January 2003, shortly after the previous law was struck down.

Mr. Rendell, who is seeking re-election to a second term in November, said his intention is to "set new standards in regulating those who want to influence the actions of the executive branch," which has 78,000 employees.

But his lack of action for three years on the subject drew criticism from Republicans.

"This move came 1,148 days after he was sworn in as Pennsylvania governor," said Ray Zaborney, campaign manager for Mr. Rendell's Republican opponent, Lynn Swann. "He is late to the party."

Mr. Swann vowed last November that on his first day as governor, he would sign an order to bring "open and real lobbyist disclosure to the executive branch," Mr. Zaborney said.

Senate Republican counsel Drew Crompton said he's glad the governor is following the Senate's lead but suspected some "political" motivation behind the move, since the November election is getting closer.

"He hasn't talked about this [lobbyist] issue for years," Mr. Crompton said. "He hasn't been beating the drums for it. I think the timing is a political calculation to make sure they have something in place before the election."

Some Republicans also wondered why Mr. Rendell hadn't pushed for lobbyist registration in the executive branch during 2003 and 2004, when many casino lobbyists were swarming around the Capitol to urge the Legislature to legalize slots casinos in Pennsylvania.

Barry Kauffman, director of Common Cause/Pennsylvania, applauded the governor's move to require lobbyists to register and report but said a new law is still urgently needed.

The governor's rule won't cover lobbyists who influence House members or independent state agencies like the Public Utility Commission, the Gaming Control Board, the Turnpike Commission and other powerful agencies, Mr. Kauffman said.

Mr. Rendell's executive order pertains to lobbyists who visit Mr. Rendell, his cabinet members or other officials in several dozen executive branch agencies. They must register with the state and report quarterly spending if it exceeds $2,500. That's the same threshold of spending in the Senate rule. Reports of lobbyists who influence the executive branch will be made available online.

Another weakness of the governor's measure, Mr. Crompton said, is the lack of sanctions for lobbyists who don't report. The Senate rules do contain penalties, including a possible ban from lobbying for up to five years, he said.

But Kate Philips, Mr. Rendell's press secretary, said the Constitution doesn't give the governor the power to impose sanctions on lobbyists.

"That's why a new law is needed," so enforcement power could be given to the state Ethics Commission or attorney general, she said.