Legions of Lobbyists
[Guest post by DRJ]
As a candidate, Barack Obama rejected contributions from registered lobbyists because he wanted to maintain an identity as a Washington outsider immune from special interests. However, behind the scenes, Obama welcomed support from lobbyists’ family, clients, affiliates and friends, as well as in kind donations of policy and campaign support.
That support is paying off for legions of lobbyists. During the 1st Quarter of 2010, D.C. lobbyists averaged $19M a day in earnings for each day Congress was in session:
“Hordes of hired K Street guns are in high demand as President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats seek to implement grand legislative plans.
And a Center for Responsive Politics review of lobbying reports recently filed with the Senate Office of Public Records indicates companies, trade associations, unions and other groups spent nearly $1 billion on lobbying during the first three months of 2010. That puts the current year on an early pace toward exceeding the record amount of money — about $3.47 billion — spent last year on federal lobbying efforts.
The $903 million spent between January 1 and March 31 is larger than overall lobbying expenses in three out of four quarters last year, and it represents an 11 percent increase from the $811 million spent on lobbying during the first three months of 2009.
Special interests spent about $19 million per day on lobbying efforts, the Center for Responsive Politics estimates, based on the number of calendar days that either the House or Senate was officially in session.”
And that doesn’t even touch the mockery Obama has made of his promise to ban lobbyists from working in his administration.
— DRJ
We have the best government money can buy;
AD - RtR/OS! (3def68) — 4/29/2010 @ 5:56 pmor, if not the best, at least the best paid Little Whorehouse on the Potomic.
OT: Crist, dirtbag.
HeavenSent (a9126d) — 4/29/2010 @ 6:00 pmTom Delay just said that he’s mighty impressed at Teh One’s aptitude in this regard. What was that about the “culture of corruption” that the Dems endlessly shrieked about during Bush’s second term?
Dmac (21311c) — 4/29/2010 @ 6:18 pm“And that doesn’t even touch the mockery Obama has made of his promise to ban lobbyists from working in his administration.”
DRJ – Both supporters and opponents have come to learn that any promise to do something by Obama is an oxymoron.
daleyrocks (1d0d98) — 4/29/2010 @ 7:34 pmPeople should remember we have a constitutional right to lobby our government. Politicians know this but still want to make them an enemy even while, like Obama, they bring them into the government.
But no contact with lobbyists has to remain secret. If a politician wants to meet with a lobbyist, they should put out a transcript or recording of the meeting. If Archer Daniels Midland wants more tax breaks for ethanol, why should their meeting be secret. It’s not like a president can claim executive privilege when they meet with lobbyists.
Don’t put limits on lobbyists, just make all contact with them totally transparent. Let people know what the special interests are asking for and voters can decide for themselves if a president is really working for the people.
MU789 (13091a) — 4/29/2010 @ 7:43 pmYeah, but . . . Obama’s still working on that transparency thing, too.
Icy Texan (1c9d6c) — 4/29/2010 @ 8:09 pm“What was that about the “culture of corruption” that the Dems endlessly shrieked about during Bush’s second term?”
They just wanted in on the loot.
Travis Monitor (483b36) — 5/6/2010 @ 1:57 pm