Why lawmakers love lobbyists and hate 'outside groups'

Washington Examiner ^ | 12/17/2013 | TIMOTHY P. CARNEY

[arthurus]

Lobbyists make Congressmen rich.

[NYFriend]

Lobbying is a double-edge sword. In the big picture, lobbyists represent “special interests”, and often (but not always) gain accesses by offering campaign support.

The flip side is that professional lobbyist are often lawyers, former government managers or analysts, or industry experts, who know what they are talking about, and can offer real input on the real-life application of pieces of a proposed law, or the entire matter being discussed.

“outside groups” of concerned citizens are often (but not always) more “real”, and actually care about their issue, and want to do what they think in right. But, they often don't know what they are talking about.

Now, would your rather take your advice from someone who know what they are talking about, but is advocating their own side, or someone who doesn't know what they are talking about but is genuine. Who would you rather argue with? Making campaign support (money, press, get-out-the-vote drives) the tie breaker, makes some sense, even if you don't really like it.

Disclaimer, it's been more than 5, but less then 10 years since I've “lobbied” or been lobbied.

[Impy]

“Why lawmakers love lobbyists and hate ‘outside groups’”

It’s obvious why, no need to write an article about it.