Monday, April 4, 2005

1. Monday, April 4, 2005 • Thank you. Yes, I’m alive. No, I haven’t graded the midterms. • Let’s go through the readings (briefly) • Let’s talk about the mud flaps case. • Let’s hear from the lobbyists • And the committee chairs, • Then, finally, let’s talk a bit about the Health Insurance Case, lessons from which we’re now seeing in the Social Security case.

2. “Congressional Vote Options”-David King & Richard Zeckhauser

3. Vote Options • “Hip pocket” votes, “if you need me” pledges • Result of using vote options: victories narrower than losses • Excess votes are not bought • Votes not bought for losing efforts • Reason for options: uncertainty

4. Options: United v. Divided Govt. • United Government • President wins votes 2/3 of time • Victories by slimmer margins than losses • Divided Government • Speaker mobilizes against President • Speaker wins 70% of the time • As in United Government, Victories are by slimmer margins than losses

5. Conclusions • Legislators “strategically wait” to cast votes • Vote options likely to be exercised when outcome is close to 50% • Narrow wins more frequent than narrow losses • If vote is not close enough, votes are released by leaders

6. How to Win in Washington-Ernest Wittenberg & Elisabeth Wittenberg

7. Winning Pattern • Define the Issue • Research the Issue • Recruit Allies • Find a Congressional Sponsor • Raise the Visibility of the Issue • Support the Issue in Public Hearings • Monitor the Issue Tenaciously Through the Legislative Process

8. Getting a Foot in the Door • Focus efforts and resources on Congress (Congress is open, White House is closed) • Coalition of allies necessary to show that the issue is important • Newsworthiness raises an issue’s priority

9. Lessons • Constituents come first to members, legislation comes second • Effective contact can be made in the District • Mondays & Fridays are not good days for receptions, but they are good days to see staff • Long days are the rule • See the staff first, they are a tougher audience than the Member • Brutally honest: who/what is on your side; who/what is against you

10. Access and Entry • Entry: gets you into the outer offices of Members • Access: “takes you the rest of the way” • Constituents • Representative of a large number of voters • Personal friendships • Name should be on Member’s contribution reelection list

11. Contributions “Money—used in legal ways—is an absolutely essential ingredient for operating successfully on the Hill.” • Give money, but DO NOT expect anything in return • NEVER discuss money with the Member; It is illegal to give money on federal property • Political Action Committees: contributions from employees of company or members of an association or union, usually bundled “I’d like to do something to help in the next election.”

12. “Perspectives on Lobbying” The Lobbying Handbook-John Zorack

13. David Pryor • “Lobbyists…perform legislative services so vital to both federal and state legislatures as to outweigh the abuses of bad lobbyists.” • “…they must believe strongly in their points of view.” • “The worst lobbyist doesn’t tell the truth…” • “The best lobbyist maintains good relationships with his opposition…” • “Lobbyists must become acquainted with staff…”

14. Jennings Randolph • “…know the impact of legislation on a district or state before coming in to see a Member.” • “..limit the number of visitors to tow or three.” • “lobbyist should keep quiet and let the company representative or plant manager state his case.” • “Be sure that the chairman is not the last person on the committee to be briefed.” • “The lobbyist should do his homework beforehand and be seen but not heard during the markup session.”

15. Patricia Schroeder • “Lobbying is not particularly attractive.” • “Washington resembles more and more a coin-operated machine…” • “Most important is an understanding of the legislative process, the ability to communicate, and knowing what to do.” • “Good lobbyists help by telling us how a bill will impact a business or constituency before Congress votes.” • “Some of the worst lobbyists are [CEOs] who do not articulate their issues well…”

16. Bud Schuster • “Lobbyists should be knowledgeable, trustworthy, responsible individuals.” • “…keys to lobbying successfully is developing relationships with Members over a period of time…” • “Lobbyists should make sure that the industries they represent have hammered out internal differences before coming to Congress.” • “Lobbyists can develop access to Members by supporting their fundraisers • “Most members have little time to be wined and dined…”

17. Arlene M. Sidell • “Most committees are decentralized, with each subcommittee maintaining its own documentation.” • “Congressional documents are available for any legitimate public use…” • “Markup transcripts are never released for reproduction because the are neither edited nor published.”

18. Alan K. Simpson • “…when I don’t know what a lobbyist wants, or when a lobbyist introduces me to someone as though I’m the catch of the day, he may as well retire…I’m not a visitors’ bureau…” • “…the lobbyist must not take up too much of the Member’s time…” • “I can’t afford to spend time on entertainment, which is not key to effective lobbying, anyway. Most lobbyists also enjoy a no-nonsense business approach.”

19. Credits • Presentation based on: David C. King & Richard J. Zeckhauser, “Congressional Vote Options,” July 16, 2002.; Ernest & Elisabeth Wittenberg. How to Win in Washington. 2nd Edition. Cambridge: Blackwell, 1994, pp. 13-34.; John Zorack, “Perspectives on Lobbying,” The Lobbying Handbook. Washington: Professional Lobbying and Consulting Center, 1990, pp. 779-791 • Images from: “Electronic Voting,” http://clerkkids.house.gov/trip/chamber.html#voting Accessed 4/3/2005; Lobbying Cartoon, http://www.americanprogress.org/atf/cf/%7BE9245FE4-9A2B-43C7-A521-5D6FF2E06E03%7D/cartoon_lobbyists_large.gif Accessed 4/3/2005; Lobbying Manual, http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1570735514.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg Accessed 4/3/05