It's an old joke among lobbyists, "Don't tell my mom I'm a lobbyist, she still thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse."
I don't come here to defend lobbyists, or to bury them. I do come here to shed a little light on the business of influence and access. And maybe in the process offer insight into the lobbying profession.
I know a thing or two about lobbying. I've done it at the state and federal level. I have many friends and colleagues who are or were lobbyists or staffers at the state and federal levels of government.
I'll tell you the truth - I've never been sure whether it is an honorable profession or not. At its core, lobbying is about influence. It's about knowing the system and the rules of the system. It's about influencing votes. And that means it is all about access and relationships. Plain and simple, a lobbyist's power rests on two factors - an understanding of the system of government and power centers and maintaining access to decision-makers. The fact of the matter is that there are various types of lobbyists, just as there are various types of legislators.
The first factor, understanding of government and power centers, comes from experience and observation. It isn't something that you learn in Civics class. All of those "How A Bill Becomes A Law" charts go out the window after you graduate and get out into the real world with your Poli Sci degree. You learn that things aren't so easy to diagram and that lawmaking is a very complicated dance. Legislative committee systems, rules, parliamentary procedures, budget and appropriations processes, regulatory processes, Boards, Commissions, and the key decision points in Executive Branch departments - these are what make up the knowledge base that a lobbyist trades upon.
Most people with interests before Congress or state legislators don't have the time or the inclination to navigate this maze. Most don't even know where to start. That's where lobbyists come in.
Believe it or not, lobbyists aren't all fat cats. They aren't all old white men with watch chains in pin-striped suits smoking cigars. You'd be surprised at the variety of organizations with registered lobbyists. If your state has a database of registered lobbyists, I encourage you to search it. You'll find the usual corporate suspects, insurance companies, tobacco interests, etc. But, you'll also find non-profits, your own university, your own municipality, the AARP, doctors, lawyers, unions, and others represented by lobbyists. You'll even find that groups like the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and like charities have lobbyists to represent their interests.
Many, if not most, of these registered lobbyists are employed by corporations or other organizations. Others are what we call "contract" lobbyists. They aren't tied to any particular group - but pick up clients when they can.
The first group, the salaried lobbyists, are usually more sedate. They mostly play by the rules, relying on things like membership clout, organizational resources, and PACs to gain legitimacy. The fact that they might have thousands of constituents and a sizable presence in legislators' districts gives them access.
No, the ones to really worry about are the contract lobbyists. Relationships are the coin of their realm. Without their relationships to power centers, without access to decision-makers, their business dries up. They are the ones scrambling and competing with other contract lobbyists to keep clients, find new clients. And they're the ones most likely to push the envelope. They're the ones most likely to do anything to hold onto their influence.
The funny thing is that most lobbyists I know are incredibly passionate about politics. That's how they got into this gig in the first place. Sure, some are cynical, some are in it for money - but there are many lobbyists who are incredibly passionate and dedicated to their causes. Many of them use their organizing and lobbying skills in pursuit of community programs or charitable causes. I'm proud to call many of them long-time friends.
Unfortunately, there are the Abramoffs of the world. They do whataver they have to in order to stay on top. Their only interest is their bottom line. I can tell you this, though. Rarely if ever do lobbyists amass the kind of power and influence that Abramoff enjoyed without the support and coordination of elected officials in leadership positions and/or their staff.
I think that's the key thing here to remember. This isn't business as usual in Washington or in most state Capitols. People paint politicians and lobbyists with broad brushes as corrupt and unethical, and that is truly a shame. Remember, there are approximately 8,000 elected officials in Congress and state legislatures, countless staff in those offices, and thousands of lobbyists across the country. The good guys and women - elected officials, staff, and lobbyists truly outnumber the slimeballs.
That's what I've seen anyway. Maybe not a popular opinion, and certainly one I won't be shouting off the rooftops anytime soon. I'll just quietly hang out with my lobb... uh, piano-playing whorehouse friends.