Lobbyists out of shadows into the spotlightWord下载.docx

Lobbyists out of shadows into the spotlightWord下载.docx

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TheReganadministration’stax-reformproposalisonlythelatestprimetargetofthefast-expandingarmyoflobbyistswhomakeupWashington’shottestgrowthindustry.

Recentyearshaveseenanexplosioninthenumberofadvocateshiredbycorporations,laborunions,individualsandotherspecialinterestswhowanttoinfluenceactionsoftheWhiteHouse,Congressandregulatoryagencies.Expertsestimatethatmorethan15,000permanentorpart-timelobbyistsarenowoperatinginthecapital,doublethenumberof10yearsago.

Whoarethesepeople?

Howdotheyearntheirpay?

Howeffectivearethey?

Lobbying,apracticeasoldasthenation’sgovernment,gotitsnamefromthecozyrelationshipstuckupinlobbiesoftheCapitolandnearbyhotelsbetweenmembersofCongressandthoseseekingfavor.Intheearlydays,companieswouldoftensealthevoteofapoliticianbysimplyputtinghimonretainer.

Shadyreputation.Lobbyistsquicklydevelopedanunsavoryreputationofbeingbagmenwhoconductedthepeople’sbusinessaroundthepokertable.Despiteperiodicscandalsanddemandsforreform,Congresshasbeenreluctanttotemperwithlawsguaranteeingtherightofcitizenstopetitiontheirgovernment.

Therearestillreportsoflobbyistsengaginginunderhandedpracticesorchargingclientsfatfees─$50foratelephonecallwhetherthesubjectanswersornot,or$4,000forabriefmeetingwithanofficial.

Yetlobbyistsinsistthesinisterimageoftheiroccupationhasfadedovertheyears,andtheyhaveevenformedtheirownassociation─theAmericanLeagueofLobbyists.

Saysoneveteranoperator:

“Boozeandbroadsdon’tworkanymoreandhaven’tforalongtime.Itisaprofessionalundertakingnow.”

Lobbyistscomeinavarietyofguises,butlawyers,trade-associationrepresentativesandpublic-relationshipsconsultantsdominatethefield.Manywomenhaveinvadedaprofessiononcerestrictedlargelytomen.

Anumberoflobbyistspreviouslyservedinkeygovernmentposts.Therostersincludedmorethan300formermembersofCongress,cabinetandWhiteHouseofficialsandcongressionalaids.

Saysanex-congressmanwhorepresentsatradeassociation:

“Knowingyourwayaroundtownandhavingaccesstoimportantpeopleiscriticaltosomeonewhohasaproblemandisbewailedabouttheintricaciesofgovernment.”

Abuyer’smarket.Lobbyfirmsconeinallsizes.Therearethejumbooutfitssuchasthe100-memberGray&

Company,headedbyRobertGray,whoiswellconnectedintheRepublicanParty.Gray’sfirm,likemostinthefieldtoday,iscarefullybipartisanandincludesprominentDemocratsinordertoinfluencepubicofficialsfrombothpoliticalparties.

Foreverylargelobbyingfirmdoingbusinessoutofaplushdowntownbuilding,therearescoresoftinyoperationsthatoftendealinspecializedissues.StanlyBrand,alawyerwhoonceseveredascounseltotheHouseoftheRepresentatives,saysofsmalloutfits:

“Wecanbealotmoreefficientthanthelargefirms,andsomeclientsaren’talwaysinterestedinthebighitters”.

Lobbyingisbigmoney.Ahighpoweredorganizationwillchargeanannualretainerof$200,000ormore.Hourlyfeesorangeupto$400forthesuperlobbyists.Toputonwinning,somecontractsinclude“successbonus”clauses.

WithmillionsorevenbillionsofdollarsonthelineinbillsbeforeCongress,thestakesrunhigh.Insomemajorbattles,suchasthe1979proposaltobailoutthefinanciallyailingChryslerCorporation,morethanonefirmishiredtopersuadelawmakers.

GaryHomely,alobbyistwhousedtoworkforHouseSpeakerThomas“Tip”O’Neill,explains“Theothersideisgoingtobeorganizedtofightinwhatisbasicallyanadversarialsystem.Soyourprospectiveclienthadbetterbeorganized,too.”

LobbyistsareoftenhirednotsomuchtoinfluenceofficialsastofindoutwhatisgoingoninWashingtonthatcouldaffectaclient.SaysHowardLiebengood,whoworkedforformerSenateMajorityLeaderHowardBakerbeforeopeninghisownfirmlastyear:

“we’reprimarilyintelligencegathers.Ourcrudityisthemostimportantthingwe’vegot.”

Somefirms,suchasonehead3edbyNancyReynolds,afriendoftheReagans,andAnneWexler,aformerkeyaideintheCarterWhiteHouse,specializeincoalitionbuildingandgrassrootslobbying.MountingadrivetogetvoterstoworkonmembersofCongressThroughletters,telephonecallsandpersonalvisitscanhaveenormousimpact.

CharlsWalker,aleadingtaxlobbyist,notes:

“First,lastandalways─it’sthepeopleathomethatnearestanddearesttotheheartsofcongressmen.”

Example:

In1983,banksandsavingsinstitutionstouchedoffafloorof13millionpostcardsandlettersthat