Chapter 9 : Interest Groups Honors Government, Oct. 16, 2013

1. Chapter 9: Interest GroupsHonors Government, Oct. 16, 2013

2. Interest Groups (IGs) at work“Obamacare: The Dealmaking Begins” • http://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/frntc10.guide.obama/obamas-deal-the-deal-making-begins/

3. So what’s an interest group? • The book: “a private organization that tries to persuade public officials to respond to the shared attitudes of its members.” • It’s just a group that represents a special interest. • IGs are sometimes called “lobbyists,” perhaps after the activities that went on in the Willard Hotel (probably a myth, btw, but still a great hotel).

4. The lobby of the Willard

5. There’s a group for everyone… • See list (undoubtedly partial) of trade associations: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_industry_trade_groups_in_the_United_States • There’s even a trade association that represents other trade associations. • It’s called the American League of Lobbyists. • And it just voted to change its name to the Association of Government Relations Professionals.

6. Why do IGs exist? • To serve the interests of their clients. • They are not acting in the general public interest, although hopefully the two interests overlap. • Those interests may include – • Getting a statute or regulation passed or changed • Getting information • Getting access to problem-solvers

7. To achieve their goals, IGs… …do the following: • Participate in political process— • stimulate members to get involved – sometimes called “grass roots” efforts • help clients and policymakers shape laws • Educate – provide information to clients and policymakers, admittedly in biased way (but should always be factual)

8. Roles of IGs (cont.) • Frame issues—Examples: Issue Conservative Liberal • Participate in agenda building: identify problems, bring them to light, get att’n. Example: Highlighting problem of pirated CDs and other intellectual property • Serve as another watchdog. Did the policy do what was promised? Any unintended consequences?

9. Tools of IGs 1. Knowledge, about – • technical details – lobbyists often will comment on, and even draft, legislation for Congress • the likely consequences • the likely opposition’s response • key actors on a given issue • etc. A policymaker then will make the political calculation about what to do the information, but the information is absolutely crucial.

10. Tools of IGs (cont.) • Lawsuits • Amicus brief in someone else’s suit • Contributions, although $ is not most important. • Grassroots lobbying – calling, emailing, etc. • Variations on this theme: • Form letter, email • Personalized letter • Astro-turf (not very effective) • How these might play out: All will use information. They may also use the following: • American Medical Association: $ • NRA: $, grassroots • American Bankers Association: $, grassroots • Public interest group: lawsuit

11. Tools of IGs (cont.) • Endorsements • Candidate ratings. See, e.g., • http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/9490/barack-obama-ii#.UJaWVIWhBFw • Funneling volunteers to campaigns and GOTV efforts • Independent expenditures

12. Potential problems with IGs • Some interests are not represented. Why? B/c • May lack an issue that has direct impact on sufficient number of people. • Ex: Desire to get funding for a new bridge. • May be an issue of greatest importance to people who don’t vote. • Ex: Homelessness.

13. Other problems with IGs • Narrow self-interest may not be in the best interest of the country as a whole. • Ex: The tobacco industry gets richer when more people smoke. • AHIP’s interest was to make sure all had to buy insurance and that they had to buy insurance from private insurers. • Large organizations are often internally fractured; a small minority may be dominant. • Ex: ABA representing big and small banks.

14. Other problems (cont.) • Some lobbyists engage in under-handed dealings. • See Jack Abramoff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHiicN0Kg10

15. Response to abuses: Regulation of lobbyists • Registration of lobbyists • Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act requires you to register as a lobbyist registration but… • …only if you have a certain level of direct contacts with MCs. • Disclosure laws • Must say who you’re representing and the issues you’re working on. • Must also disclose who you’re giving money to.

16. Regulation of lobbyists (cont.) • Can’t bribe • Can’t give gifts • Can’t reimburse MC for travel costs (no “fact finding” junkets paid for, or arranged by, a lobbyist) • Can’t lobby after leaving government employment • Applies only in certain circumstances • Ban expires after a year or two, depending on office

17. Comparing IGs and parties • Goal of IGs: influence policies. • They are policymaximizers. • They are specialists, focusing on narrow issues of interest to their members. • Goal of parties: get someone elected. • They are votemaximizers. • Thus, they are generalists. The rise of plurality, single-member districts means that the parties must be big tents. Must dilute some policy positions, be ambiguous, ignore some issues.

18. IGs and parties (cont.) • IGs can help the parties get someone elected, through $, votes, media, endorsements, etc. • Through these, IGs can gain access to lawmakers. • But only parties can nominate someone. That is one of the last significant acts left to political parties.

19. Issue Networks • IGs operate in “issue networks” – a loosely defined group of people in IGs, on congressional staffs, in universities, in “think tanks”, and in the media who talk regularly with each other about policy. • Ill-defined, very loose, and frequently changing but very real. • Info = power, and to get good, current info you need to be in an issue network. • Doesn’t guarantee success. Pluralism still very powerful.

20. Issue networks and “iron triangles”

21. So what makes a lobbyist effective? Credibility comes first. • Trust is the coin of the realm. • Know your client. Sometimes there are bad actors, and be careful not to lose credibility by pushing for a bad guy. • KISS. If it’s too complicated to explain to a smart 8th-grader, it’s probably too complicated. • Also be careful about crying wolf.

22. Effective lobbying (cont.) • Facts count. • Particularly on the regulatory side. Save the histrionics for the meetings with your clients (or better yet, avoid them altogether). Don’t be this guy: • On legislative side, facts count too, but one of those facts is votes, another is money.

23. Effective Lobbying (cont.) • Personalize the story if you can. • Policymakers – particularly congressmen – love a good anecdote. • They also want to know how it will affect their district or their agencies. Good: Better: Best:

24. Effective lobbying (cont.) • Try not to burn bridges. • The Godfather was a genius (strictly business, nothing personal). • Pick your battles. • Never surprise or embarrass a policymaker. • If consistent with mission, donate to both parties.

25. Effective lobbying (cont.) • Success often = compromise. • Understand that the policymakers have a need. Figure it out and see if there is a way to accommodate all sides. • Success may also = doing nothing sometimes.

26. Effective lobbying (cont.) • Create a dependency. • Be the “go-to” guy or gal for a congressman or regulator. • Churn out a lot of info, but make it high quality and short (particularly if going to upper levels; can be more detailed if audience primarily is staff). • Don’t be a pest.

27. Let’s watch a lobbyist again; Repeat of Obamacare: The Dealmaking Begins • http://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/frntc10.guide.obama/obamas-deal-the-deal-making-begins/