do lobbyists influence the legislative process in the US?

Question

in what way? inputs please.

Answer 1

You have focused on one small symptom of the disease that is killing The United States of America.

We are no longer a system of representative democracy, nor are we any longer a Republic. The US is a fascist State ruled by the Corporations.

A simple look at our elections process makes this point easily.

In order for a person to get elected to National Office, that person, first has to raise large sums of money. We donate our cash to the candidate that we plan to vote for. The Corporations also donate to their candidate, in larger amounts than the average citizen cold afford to.

The Money collected is then, in large part, paid to the Mass Media Corporations to purchase advertising air time.

So far we have forced our candidate to take stands that promote the interests of the Corporate entities for donations in order to pay other Corporations for the privilege of using OUR PUBLIC air waves to inform us about the Candidates.

This is why Corporate donations to political candidates are so prevalent. The donations are no-cost to the overall Corporate structure. The money donated is paid right back to the Corporate accounts.

The Candidate's debt is definitely not without cost. Our now newly elected "Representative" received a lot of money from Corporate sponsors. That money made his election possible. Without that money, or if enough of that money is directed to his opponent, re-election will be difficult if not impossible.

Our "Representative" is by default, as a result of being elected into office, in a direct conflict of interest with the Corporations, and the money wins.

This is not an indictment of the Candidates. It is a fact or our election process.

Added to the mix, Corporate Lobbyists. The job of the Corporate Lobbyist is the constantly remind our "Representatives" of the debt that they owe, and to tempt them with the trips, vacations, money, prostitutes or whatever the politician desires.

Now, maybe, they will receive some news byte of a personal nature to be used against the Politician. If not, participation in this process ensures that the process itself will be continued.

The worst case scenario for the Corporation is that their lobbyist or Politician gets caught by flagrant violations, which means they have to recruit someone else.

The first thing that happened after the Democratic victories this past November was the immediate scramble of the Corporations to hire Democratic Lobbyists. The Candidates had not had a chance to sober up from their victory parties, much less think about or introduce any legislation, but the green lobbying carpet is already installed and is waiting for them.

SO.......

Jack's Proposals for a better USA

First we as voters have to remind our politicians that our interests are more important to them than corporate dollars.

We do this in the following ways:

First we refuse to allow any incumbent to remain in office. Party affiliation dos not matter. They all owe the same Corporations. This will have to be done for several election cycles.

Second, we outlaw Corporate Lobbying. Corporation's can make their evaluation of a law in hearings, or a sub-committee on Corporate policy.

Third, we legislate an "Election Air Time Act" to ensure that all Candidates get equal air time coverage, and that coverage will be donated by the Networks.

Fourth, We mount an intense review of all legislation in Washington to determine which Laws require changes, based on their bias for Corporate interests. This review should include criminal investigations and prosecutions of offenders. Industries which affect the most voters would require the highest scrutiny.

Media Corporations, and all laws regarding the use of the "PUBLIC Airwaves" would be my first choice.

Energy Corporations, because of the vital importance of energy Production.

Defense Contractors, because of the sheer volume of expenditures and the complete lack of oversight.

This would be a beginning, and is, by no means an all inclusive list.

Answer 2

They influence FAR MORE than just the legislative process
They influence the way in which the legislative process in approached--how the words are placed into documents and laws going into the legislative process and etc etc etc on and on infanatum-------they ARE the point where big money meets big government and everyone should already have a fairly clear view how absolutely legitimate that is ----right ??? They are the people that spread the "grease" around that gets marginal and questionable items through the works with all kinds of covert ways of getting money into the hands of legislators and their people's projects and private interests as well as into their campaigns etc by ways of second party contributions and other methods and a host of other very shady practices that seem to work with total impunity in the greatest modern day fraud to exist on the planet----representative government !!!

Answer 3

Right or wrong, it's legal and abused just as everything else is in government. They wine and dine legislators all the time to get their agenda through congress. Sorry, but it's a fact of life

Answer 4

its all approximately i scratch your returned, you scratch mine. we could say im a lobbyist for the eco matters, properly i'm getting somebody to hearken to i write the bill, then its a potential of having the votes to get it to the floor to have an honestly vote on, if i cant get adequate human beings to help the bill, then it is going nowhere. whilst maximum of costs arise its approximately getting help for it, then get it to the floor for leg. to vote on it. we could say me and you have 2 distinctive costs, that we the two see as important, i visit furnish you my help in case you provide me your help, yet when I even have already given my help for yet another bill, then for some reason i cant do the two, your bill and the different bill that i promised my help to. in case you watch the action picture "the president, with annette benning and micheal douglas you will get a greater effective attitude of the foyer and how the technique works, a minimum of holloywood words. sturdy success.

Answer 5

yes, they are professional briber's if there is such a thing. they sweet talk, spend money on and give money to legislators / law makers to insure that laws are not passed that will prohibit or raise taxes for instance in their given industry, say the oil industry for example.

Answer 6

You have got to be joking or on crack to ask such a question when the answer is so apparent. Lobists, and Lawyers, are completely ruining this country. Oh well, the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor.

Answer 7

this is the january public forum debate topic...so I think that it is a legitimate question...the answers given here seem to be relatively unresearched

Answer 8

yes... they pay for re-election of officials that support their ideas...

Answer 9

are you serious? havent you ever seen family guy? "ive got two words for ya; come on!....come on!"