Lobbyists play a big role in American politics.
They get bills passed, politicians elected, and national programs funded.
But according to a 2013 Gallup poll, only 6% of Americans view lobbyists as honest or
ethical.
So how is it, that one of our most politically influential groups is also one of the least
trustworthy?
Let’s start by looking at what lobbying actually is.
The National Conference of State Legislatures defines Lobbying as “a citizen’s right
to speak freely, to impact decisions, and petition the government…”
And Lobbying can be that simple.
People or groups petitioning their representatives to vote for issues they care about.
But that’s not all lobbying is.
It’s also big business, carried out by professionals who register with the government and are paid
by third parties to lobby on their behalf.
It sounds ominous, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be bad.
There are hundreds of examples of professionals lobbying for things like AIDS prevention and
poverty relief.
One group named Results successfully lobbied to increase government funding for child survival
by $50 million.
And according to UNICEF, that one act of lobbying saved the lives of 25 million children.
There are numerous other public interest groups employing professional lobbyists, from the
American Heart Association to The Red Cross.
But of course, there is another side to lobbying as well.
Between 2008 and 2010, a study of 30 different corporations found that they spent $476 million
on lobbying, and in return, received almost $11 billion in tax rebates.
Some would say this is a good example of big business using lobbyists to cheat the system.
Critics of lobbying also point to corruption cases, like the Jack Abramoff scandal and
increased lobbying by corporations after major ecological disasters, like the BP oil spill.
They see this as evidence that the system is broken and needs reform.
So, why hasn’t the system changed?
Well, politicians have tried, but the benefits of lobbying typically outweigh the desire
for reform.
President Obama, for example, campaigned for reform while running in 2008, and on his first
day in office, he even signed an executive order restricting lobbyists from taking certain
government positions - which was a good step forward for Lobby reform.
But then in 2013, he allowed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, who exist under the
executive branch, to give over half a million dollars to a registered lobbyist to help promote
his Affordable Care Act, which is an example of him benefiting from the current system.
The fact of the matter is that lobbying isn’t just a political reality for our elected officials,
it can also be a financial boon.
According to reports, in 2012, half of all retiring congressmen become lobbyists.
Which makes sense, because lobbying is a 3 Billion Dollar a year industry that former
politicians happen to be uniquely qualified for.
Is the American lobbying system ready for an overhaul?
What are the first steps to reform?
Please let us know in the comments below.
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