lobbyist

Examples of lobbyist in the following topics:

• Obama vs. the Lobbyists?

  • Early in his presidency, Obama said "[lobbyists] won't find a job in my White House," but softened his stance later in the campaign.
  • Early in his presidential campaign, Obama stated that "they [lobbyists] won't find a job in my White House", but softened his stance later in the campaign.
  • As of March 21, 2009, at least thirty officials appointed by Obama had been lobbyists in the past five years.
  • Not all recent former lobbyists require waivers; those without waivers write letters of recusal stating issues from which they must refrain because of their previous jobs.
  • Lobbyists in the administration include William Corr, an anti-tobacco lobbyist, as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and Tom Vilsack, who lobbied in 2007, for a national teachers union, as Secretary of Agriculture.

• Regulating Congressional Lobbyists

  • The rules often specify how much a lobbyist can spend on specific activities, and how to report expenses.
  • Clearly defining who is a "lobbyist" and what precisely are lobbying activities can sometimes be difficult.
  • There have been issues raised about what constitutes the difference between a lobbyist and a bundler.
  • If lobbyists have two or more contacts with a legislator as a lobbyist, then they must register.
  • —Lobbyist Gerald S.

• Direct Techniques

  • Direct lobbying in the United States consists of methods used by lobbyists to influence the United States legislative bodies .
  • The registration must occur within 45 days after the individual lobbyist makes a first plan to lobby.
  • Revolving door is a term used to describe the cycling of former federal employees into jobs as lobbyists, while former lobbyists are pulled into government positions.
  • A total of 326 lobbyists are part of the Barack Obama Administration .
  • This graph compares the number of lobbyists with the amount of lobby spending.

• Results of the 1946 Act

  • The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress to reduce the influence of lobbyists.
  • The Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress that was intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists on the government.
  • Lobbyists claimed that the Regulation of Lobbying Act was unconstitutional on the grounds that it was vague and unclear.
  • The Supreme Court ruled that the act applied only to paid lobbyists who directly communicated with members of Congress, and only when that communication regarded pending or proposed federal legislation.
  • This meant that lobbyists who visited with congressional staff members, rather than members of Congress themselves, were not considered lobbyists.

• Lobbying Scandals and the Reforms of 2007

  • Prohibits lobbyists from providing gifts or travel to members of Congress with knowledge that the gift or travel is in violation of House or Senate rules.
  • Requires lobbyist disclosure filings to be filed twice as often, by decreasing the time between filing from semi-annual to quarterly.
  • Requires the Government Accountability Office to audit annually lobbyist compliance with disclosure rules.
  • Requires lobbyists to certify they have not given gifts or travel that would violate Senate or House rules.
  • Requires that members prohibit their staff from having any lobbying contact with the Member's spouse if such individual is a registered lobbyist or is employed or retained by a registered lobbyist to influence legislation.

• Cultivating Access

  • Lobbyist Jack Abramoff explains:
  • So that's the lobbyist safe-cracker method: throw fundraisers, raise money, and become a big donor.
  • Many lobbyists become campaign treasurers and fundraisers for congresspersons.
  • An even steeper possible reward which can be used in exchange for favors is the lure of a high-paying job as a lobbyist.
  • Connections count: Congressperson Tom Perriello with lobbyist Heather Podesta at an inauguration party for Barack Obama.

• Interest Groups, Lobbyists, and PACs

  • There are over twelve thousand registered lobbyists in Washington, but only a handful of those have the influence and connections needed to consistently influence policy.
  • Lobbyists work to directly persuade decision makers in Congress along with members of the executive branch.
  • The impact of lobbyists is unclear, but many believe they can influence public policy.
  • Several groups now exist to track the connections between Members of Congress, lobbyists, and campaign financing.
  • Describe how outside groups work to shape policy at the federal level through the use of interest groups, lobbyists, and PACs.

• The Reforms of 1995

  • Under provisions which took effect on January 1, 2006, lobbyists are required to register with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate.
  • Definitions: The LDA defines a number of provisions attempting to maintain a degree of transparency in the activities of lobbyists.
  • A person or entity whose employees act as lobbyists on its own behalf is both a client and an employer of such employees....".
  • The legislation also includes lobbyists that are affected: "The term "lobbyist" means any individual who is employed or retained by a client for financial or other compensation for services that include more than one lobbying contact, other than an individual whose lobbying activities constitute less than 20 percent of the time engaged in the services provided by such individual to that client over a six month period. " Also included in the legislation are the definitions of what actions must be disclosed, which includes lobbying to certain members of the Executive Branch who are included on specific payrolls.
  • Loopholes: The legislation does not include those lobbyists whose "activities constitute less than 20 percent of the time engaged in services", thus failing to regulate grassroots (small donors) lobbying.

• Mobilizing Public Opinion

  • Increasingly, lobbyists seek to influence politics by putting together large coalitions and using outside lobbying to sway public opinion.
  • Increasingly, lobbyists seek to influence politics by putting together coalitions and by utilizing outside lobbying to mobilize public opinion on issues.
  • These groups have been defined as "sustainable coalitions of similarly situated individual organizations in pursuit of like-minded goals. " According to one study, it is often difficult for a lobbyist to influence a staff member in Congress directly, because staffers tend to be well-informed, and because they frequently hear views from competing interests.
  • As an indirect tactic, lobbyists often try to manipulate public opinion which, in turn, can sometimes exert pressure on congresspersons, who must frequently appeal to that public during electoral campaigns.
  • These are often put together by lobbyists who coordinate a variety of interest group leaders to unite behind a hopefully simple, easy-to-grasp, and persuasive message.

• Leadership

  • When interest groups attempt to influence policymakers through lobbying, they usually rely on professional lobbyists.
  • Lobbyists are often well-connected professionals, such as lawyers, whose role is to argue for specific legislation.
  • Successful lobbyists achieve insider status in legislative bodies, meaning they can talk directly to lawmakers.
  • Once they gain access to legislators, the lobbyist's job is to persuade them to act on behalf of their client.
  • Recent estimates put the number of registered lobbyists in Washington, D.C. at about 13,700, though there are likely thousands more unregistered lobbyists working to influence policymakers.