Policy and Issues

Lobbying in the United States describes paid activity in which special interests hire well-connected professional advocates, often lawyers, to argue for specific legislation in decision-making bodies such as the United States Congress.

Sunlight is advocating for the Lobbyist Disclosure Enhancement Act. Introduced in June by Rep. Mike Quigley, this legislation would significantly increase public knowledge of influence wielding in Washington.

The lobbying disclosure forms lobbyists file with the House and Senate have a section that requires lobbyists to list the subjects on which they are lobbying.

Lobbyists have spent more than $500,000 treating Kansas lawmakers to dinner, drinks, KU basketball games and other entertainment since January.

The activity is focused on gaining and preserving benefits in policy decision process.

The notion of a government by the people, for the people is one of the bedrock concepts of American democracy, but the reality is that policy outcomes are often influenced by a wide range of factors, not merely the candidates whom voters select to represent them on Election Day.

Lobbying activities of universities and other charitable organizations are regulated by multiple, overlapping rules of the federal government. These rules set limits on the amounts that Yale may spend on lobbying. All lobbying expenses are unallowable as charges to federal or state grants and contracts. Federal rules also explicitly prohibit the participation of the University, or the use of University resources, in partisan political activities.

Of course political self-interest and special interest lobbying lead to a host of lousy regulations.