PA 315 Government Business Relations Lobbying

PA 315 Government Business Relations Lobbying Essay

Instructions/Descriptions

PA 315 Government Business Relations Lobbying Essay

Relationship between government and business

Government as a regulator of business

The government regulates the activities of businesses in five core areas:

advertising, labor, environmental impact, privacy and health and safety

Business imposes its will on government

Business can influence government through:

campaign funding, lobbying, and regulatory agencies

Participation Questions:

What is lobbying?

What role does it play in the relationship between government and business?

What is lobbying?

According to Ni (2016), “lobbying can be defined as the process by which representatives of certain groups are attempting to influence – directly or indirectly – public officials in favor of or against a particular cause.” (p. 202)

The term “lobbyist” harkens back to the days when people hung around in lobbies waiting to get a word in with legislators heading to vote.

Is Lobbying Good or Bad?

Lobbyist

Represent a professional group that specializes in legislative or administrative advocacy

Services purchased (like lawyers or contractors) by any individual, organized interest, organization, or government

Lobbyist can effect legislative actions

Promoting candidates

Raising money

Engaging in strategic advertising

Building advocacy coalitions

Polling

Developing get-out-and-vote strategies

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Recruiting volunteer

Provide critical information/data used by legislators to reach informed and educated decisions

Different types of lobbying

Direct lobbying

refers to attempts to influence a legislative body through communication with a member or employee of a legislative body, or with a government official who participates in formulating legislation. (IRS.GOV, 2019)

Grass root lobbying

refers to attempts to influence legislation by attempting to affect the opinion of the public with respect to the legislation and encouraging the audience to take action with respect to the legislation. (IRS.GOV, 2019)

Lobbying in the United States

Since 1876, Congress has required all professional lobbyist to register with the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives

First Amendment of the US Constitution “right of the people…to petition the government for a redress of of grievances.”

U.S. Supreme Court (1967): [The] rights to assemble peaceably and to petition for a redress of grievances are among the most precious of the liberties safeguarded by the Bill of Rights. These rights, moreover, are intimately connected, both in origin and in purpose, with the other First Amendment rights of free speech and free press.

What must a lobbyist do…

Disclose the amount of money they are paid

File quarterly reports identifying contacts made with elected officials

File semi-annual reports listing contributions made to political campaigns or elected officials

Not allowed to give money or gifts directly to members of Congress

What is lobbying and can it be good?

Lobbying: Local, National, and International

Local level

Limited in scope and more specific in terms of outcomes

Targets procurement practices and ordinances (directly and indirectly)

Scope of influence includes: council members, city administrators, public opinion

National level

More professionalized

Cultivates personal relationships over a period of time

Scope of influence includes: all three branches and in the federal bureaucracy

International level

Difficult and expensive

Long term oriented

Scope of influence includes: non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foreign governments

Business engaging in lobbying

Determine what kind of lobbying strategy is preferred

Active

Anticipatory

Passive

Decide what issues to lobby and desired outcomes

Entity engaged in the lobbying activity

Total lobbying spending in the US from 1998-2017 (in billion US dollars)

https://www.statista.com/statistics/257337/total-lobbying-spending-in-the-us/

Number of registered active lobbyist in the US from 2000-2017

https://www.statista.com/statistics/257340/number-of-lobbyists-in-the-us/

Ranking of the top lobbying firms in the United States in 2017, by expenses (in million U.S. dollars)

https://www.statista.com/statistics/257372/top-lobbying-firms-in-the-us-by-expenses/

Top lobbying industries in the United States in 2017, by total lobbying spending (in million U.S. dollars)

https://www.statista.com/statistics/257364/top-lobbying-industries-in-the-us/

Lobbyists tend to get a bad rap — is lobbying bad?

Hiring former officials from and into businesses: The “revolving door”

The practice of hiring former officials into and from businesses is known as the “revolving door.” (Ni, 2016).

It is a legal and accepted practice for a number of governments around the world.

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Is Lobbying Good or Bad?

Return on Investment for lobbying.

In 2017 alone, private interests spent $3.37 billion on lobbying — and they did it because they get an unbeatable return on their investment (ROI).

There’s actually a correlation between how much a company spends on lobbyists and how much they get from the federal government. This has been dubbed the “Return On Investment For Lobbying” (ROIFL)

Is Lobbying Good or Bad?

Lobbyists Raise Millions for Congressmembers’ Campaign Funds.

On average, a candidate has to raise more than $14,000 a day, 7 days a week to win a Senate seat. A candidate needs upwards of  $1.6 million to win a seat in the House.

Is Lobbying Good or Bad?

Lobbying in an ethical manner

Fairness

Rewarding those with more money

Revolving door – easier access to lawmakers, colleagues, access codes to office, facilities, and friendships

Transparency

State and Federal requirements to register and file reports

Access to appointment books at a local level

Earmarks –requiring names of sponsors be published at least 24 hours before a bill is to be voted on

Provisions benefiting particular industries or organizations that lawmakers insert into appropriation bills …” (Nadler & Schulman, 2019, p. 1)

Common Good

Advocates

Promoting an agenda ethically…

“Trust lies at the foundation of the smooth and effective operation of any country, its business, and its government.”

(Ni, 2016, p. 219)

1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act (LCA) – defined a federal lobbyist as someone who is employed or retained by a client for compensation, has made more than one lobbying contact for his or her client, and spends at least 20 percent of his or her time working on lobbying activities for a client during a three month period.

2006 Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act (LTAA) amended the LDA’s language and requirements and added further restrictions and disclosure obligations on lobbyists and their lobbying activities.

2007 Honest Leadership and Open Government (HLOGA) attempted to limit or even exclude revolving door practices, to increase transparency, and to minimize the use of privately funded gifts and travel.

PA 315 Government Business Relations Lobbying Essay

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