Lobbyists and government

When news stories about questionable doings on Capitol Hill appear these days, they often involve lobbyists, which may be why many Americans think of lobbyists as little more than back-room influence peddlers.

The truth, though, is a bit different.

Lobbyists have become such an integral part of how our government operates, that to understand government, you need to understand lobbying.

Lobbying is a huge business because the payoffs can be huge - subsidies, tax breaks, new programs, even immunity from lawsuits.

Lobbyists these days have become intermediar-ies between Washington and the organizations that represent the many people, beliefs and interests in our society.

Most lobbyists are professionals who help members of Congress understand an issue and understand how various constituencies view it. Politicians, of course, have to remember that a lobbyist represents only one side of a complex question, but voters have a responsibility, too. If a member of Congress has let lobbyists' arguments and contributions out-weigh his or her constituents and the public interest, that's what the voting booth is for.
----
Lee Hamilton is Director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years.