As an important election approaches, Americans should remember that the power in Washington and state capitals does not reside with elected officials alone. Like a cancer that has metastasized to all democratic nations, lobbyists use their influence and other people’s money to entice legislators, executives, and officeholders in different government agencies to make or interpret the laws in ways that will benefit them or their clients. Much of the corruption seen in democratic nations is the result of interactions between government personnel in positions of power and men and women with money and other favors to disburse who have gained access to them.
Who are these lobbyists that meddle in democratic proceedings and whose voices are heard above those of the electorate? Lobbyists are individuals who act as intermediaries for special interests or advocacy groups, attempting to influence legislation and executive actions, or win government contracts. They are often former members of congress, senators, or staff members, high level employees of government agencies or departments, or retired military personnel. Because of their previous positions, they have access to legislators who are writing laws and to members of the executive branch or top military officers who can make important decisions.
Special interests include a multitude of corporations seeking government contracts for products or services, government subsidies or special tax breaks, protection from foreign competitors through tariffs or import restrictions, or the waiving of environmental regulations. Unions and labor groups are special interests that want to maintain or raise wages, or want protection from low wage workers abroad. Farmers may want subsidies for their crops or protection from imports. Cities, states and counties, foreign governments, social and religious advocacy groups, health organizations, environmental groups, the National Rifle Association and gun control groups, and countless others also act as special interest groups. All of these entities try to promote their own concerns and values, over and above those of the general public.
Members of Congress, senators, and legislators feel indebted to those who contribute to their campaign funds or raise money for them. Anyone or any group that provides significant aid gets access to the official, and perhaps that lawmaker’s willingness to craft legislation that benefits that person or group. Or perhaps a willingness to block other legislation perceived as harmful. This quid pro quo makes legislators resistant to meaningful campaign finance reform, which along with lobbying reform could change the political structure now in place. Aside from the campaign help, many politicians and their staffers also accept personal blandishments from lobbyists, such as trips, dinners, and direct financial rewards (supposedly prohibited), or the promise of plush jobs in the future. And the task of addressing the nation’s real problems, making hard choices and confronting divisive questions goes undone.
The list of government officials who have subsequently become lobbyists is extensive. Many appear to have been rewarded for work performed while in government that benefited special interests, while others were hired for their potential clout in future dealings with government agencies. A prime example of the first scenario is former Republican Representative Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, who helped shepherd the Medicare prescription drug bill through Congress in 2003. He retired soon afterwards and became president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the drug industry lobby, where he was able to command millions in salary and benefits. An example of the second is conservative Republican John Ashcroft, who had been a senator from Missouri and attorney general for President Bush. Upon leaving the government, he started a lobbying firm in the fall of 2005, quickly establishing a stable of prominent clients. Though Ashcroft had been head of the Justice Department a short time earlier, his firm represented Oracle in its attempts to persuade the Justice Department there were no anti-trust implications in a billion dollar acquisition it was pursuing. Needless to say, Oracle was successful and Ashcroft received $220,000 for his work.
Over 2200 former federal employees registered as lobbyists from 1998 to 2004, including 273 previous members of the White House staff and almost 250 members of Congress and heads of federal agencies. During this period, 50% of senators and 42% of congressmen who left office became lobbyists, 52% of departing Republicans and 33% of the Democrats. Total spending by lobbyists which was $1.44 billion in 1997, grew to $2.38 billion in 2005 according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In 2009, according to the Senate Office of Public Records, the top twenty industries alone spent $2.22 billion on lobbying. The 2010 mid-term elections saw the lion’s share of funding disbursed by special interests and lobbyists go to the Republicans who were perceived as the probable victors. The amounts given increased significantly, the result of the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court earlier in 2010 that struck down the limitations on corporate spending for political campaigns. By 2014, the number of lobbyists had grown to almost 12,000 individuals and the total spent on lobbying was over $3.2 billion. While not all politicians are intimately tied to lobbyists and special interests, the vast majority are, and even the most righteous have to cooperate to some degree if they want to get re-elected.
Though the rules and permissible conduct may vary from country to country, lobbying occurs universally in democratic nations, as the affluent, businesses, and special interests try to interact with politicians and officials to derive the advantages that government can provide. Lobbyists at times can also be helpful in conveying information to legislators or officials of which they may not be aware, particularly when they are new to their positions. However, lobbyists have been known to write the bills that legislators have presented to Congress or state bodies, or regulations that officials put into effect that bolster specific interests. Lobbyists and government officials too often ignore the ethical boundaries that should separate them when both can benefit greatly from the interactions between them, and what each side has to offer the other. But how can meaningful reform be effected?
Resurrecting Democracy
www.robertlevinebooks.com
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Political junkie, Vietnam vet, neurologist- three books on aging and dementia. Book on health care reform in 2009- Shock Therapy for the American Health Care System. Book on the need for a centrist third party- Resurrecting Democracy- A Citizen’s Call for a Centrist Third Party published in 2011. Aging Wisely, published in August 2014 by Rowman and Littlefield. Latest book- The Uninformed Voter published May 2020