DeMarCaTionVille

The City Paper says: From Oct. 1, 2007 to March 31, special interests paid their lobbyists between $8.7 million to $18.36 million to advocate their causes in the hallways, committee meetings and back rooms on Capitol Hill.

…
Away from the state Capitol, special interests turned their attention to the general public, spending between $6.1 million to $11.4 million to lobby Tennesseans through public relations and advertising campaigns during the same time period, according to this paper’s review.

Overall, employers of lobbyists spent $14.8 million to $29.7 million persuading lawmakers and the general public during the six-month period.
…
Dozens more special interests didn’t file their reports on time and therefore it is unknown how much they spent.

Read the entire report here.

I am aware of how the public perceives lobbyist. We don’t like them. They’re evil. In fact, Mr. D, who sent the link to the report, has already made a few scathing comments about how lobbyist contribute to the corruption in state government.

I realize I am supposed to agree here.

As a voter, a citizen, and former newspaper person, who is instantly suspicious of anyone with a “press secretary” I am expected to behave as though the word lobbyist leaves a foul taste in my mouth. I should spit after I say it, right?

I don’t.

My best friend from the “jelly shoes and Aquanet” days actually grew-up and became a lobbyist. We’ve talked a great deal about how she landed in this profession, and we’re never quite sure how it happened. There was no decisive or dramatic moment involved: like Darth Vader Jack Abramoff asked her to join the forces of the Dark Side. Seems the whole thing started with a cause she believed in, then lobbying became something for which people were willing to pay her – because she’s good at it.

She knows the lawmakers, secretaries, committee members, the connections and calendars… (more impressive) how to find parking and/or the bathroom in any House or Senate office building.

She spends a great amount of time doing the things any political reporter might do: researching candidates and issues – and watching the process. She does meet with lawmakers and presents her clients’ view in a favorable manner. And yes, she does seek to influence through the use of facts, research, surveys, PR campaigns, etc. Interestingly, it also seems to me – lobbyist serve a duel purpose, in that they are the eyes and ears for clients, who don’t trust government anymore than we do.

And while I’m always a bit hesitant to admit that I have (gasp) a paid lobbyist amongst my inner circle of friends (being friends with a lobbyist is one of those “running with the devil” things) honestly, her work doesn’t seem morally reprehensible to me.

In fact, she’s not doing anything you or I haven’t done. If you’ve ever contacted your federal, state or local officials over an issue and presented your views in hopes of influencing their decisions – you’ve lobbied. You may not do it consistently or well enough to get paid for it, but you’ve still crossed the line from advocate to evil doer. You’ve taken a walk on the “Dark Side.”

Unfortunately, as with any aspect of the political process, if there’s an opportunity to push, abuse and pervert the system, someone will. Wherever there are decisions to be made and money at stake or something to gain or lose, corruption may find it’s way into the mix. This is just the nature of things. So, yes, the ethics of lobbyist are a problem as are the ethics of lawmakers, industry leaders, organizations, etc. However, these problems existed before we started assigning blame and will probably continue to exist.

The trick is requiring high levels transparency, making problems easier to spot and keeping the playing field somewhat level.

You know, “big business” and “those who step on the rights of the little guy” aren’t the only groups who lobby. Good guys, gun owners, old folks, sick folks, and tree huggers lobby too. In fact, it seems for every evil lobby, there’s an anti-lobby, and if all these serve the purpose of communicating with lawmakers, educating them somewhat and pointing out that their vote on any given issue has a specific and lasting impact on a industry, group, or block of citizens – the practice seems almost beneficial.

A quote from the City Paper:

Despite outspending AT&T and the telecom giant ultimately passing a bill, the cable industry says it made a wise investment.
Joe Hall, a spokesman for the Tennessee Cable Telecommunications Association, said the bill passed this year was “considerably better” than the AT&T legislation in 2007 that stalled in the General Assembly.

Considering this – isn’t it possible lobbyists may actually lead to better laws? Isn’t it possible that lobbying is simply a method for the public, at least those willing to organize by interest, industry or ideology, to take part in the process? Could it be… all lobbyist are not the spawn of Satan?

Eh, even so, this is unlikely to sway public opinion. We’ve decided lobbyists are bad. They’ll always be bad because they’re part of “the system.” There will always be a stigma attached to the career – one which leaves lobbyist about two rungs below lawyers on that ladder up from hell.

This is why when folks ask me whatever became of Sam, I tell them she’s a high priced hooker in DC – and I will probably stick with that story because it’s easier than being declared “one of them” by the “us”es.

Tags: Lobbyist