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so called ears to a budget law, hoping it will be noticed by only those

who are  the recipient.  A recent item by item study reveals just how

far we are from being free of this budget breaking habit.  Watch for it here.

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There are many sides to the practice of offering lobbying
services. To borrow a phase, LOBBYING HAS IT’S GOOD, IT’S BAD, AND IT’S UGLY.

We can’t all be the elite lobbyists, like Bob Dole,former republican majority leader, or Tony Podesto, former lawyer who spent time raising money for members in both parties, working on presidential campaigns ranging from George McGovern to Bill Clinton.  More ex congressmen, have become lobbyists than possibly any other profession.

When the bill to impose stricter provisions to regulate lobbying was being debated, many members  said, “ don’t pass  anything to make it harder for me to register as a lobbyist when I get out of congress.” Originally a waiting period of 2 years was required before a former member could register as a lobbyist.  It was finally  agreed that a one year wait would be sufficient.  They simply could not wait to use their reputation, their congressional know how, and their many contacts and personal friendships made in the House and Senate.  There are so many perks that a former member has AFTER leaving office, such as full privileges to the floor of either body; a rare privilege which normally a lobbyist could never expect.

Unfortunately there are all too often some lobbyists who should know better, who  mislead a prospective client by
magnifying their personal political connections claiming they  enjoy a first name basis with just the right people. Unless the claims of a close relationship are legitimate, serious relationships can be expected.  And obviously, ethics were ignored.

Within the realm of tens of  thousands of reliable, sensible men and women who are registered to lobby, there always a few who forget that Lobbyists are not  Legislators.  We do not belong to that august private club known as the Congress.   And that is particularly why strict ethics should be remembered at all times.

These suggestions may benefit those who have studied the many texts and published material that has been available, including our book,  Everybody Lobbies.
The question we asked was  “ have you done your homework?”
If so, this series may be of help.   We would  like to make it easier for you to launch a successful lobbying career.
Where we left off:

You may recall that we used a  hypothetical case of how a lobbyist handles his/her first client.  We asked you to  consider yourself the “lobbyist” and your first, imaginary client we called “Mr. G.”  A  successful farmer with a large cattle spread has come up against some new and quite severe regulations with the Department of Agriculture, particularly with the administration’s agency who writes and enforces the regulations that accompany almost all agricultural laws

You have just succeeded in convincing  Mr G that you have carefully analyzed his particular problem, talked with associates who are related to this type of problem and are  convinced that with the necessary cooperation, you can bring the issue to a successful conclusion.

FOCUSING:
We acknowledged that your client, Mr G  knows the farming industry far better than you do.  But–  your need to Focus on what you must do is essential.  A workable lobbying campaign demands that a lobbyist must have  a clear focus on the specific issue under consideration.
Ask  yourself these questions:
(a) What are you expected to accomplish?
(b) With whom will you communicate;
(c) What do you expect them to do for you;
These are just basic questions which must be answered before any interview is scheduled  with a legislator.  Therefore, think about how do you intend to ”bone” up on your issue. It will be an interesting assignment, taking you in many directions.
What your research tells you could be vital to  how you handle the problems you are charged with lobbying.
Lets take an example:  the Dept. of Agricultural argues that due to an alleged shortage of grain the amount available for feeding livestock has to be severely curtailed. In fact a farmer’s present grain supply to feed his livestock would be cut in half.
Obviously,  Mr. G can give you countless arguments how this would seriously cripple his business. He would be correct in labeling it catastrophic.
One of your first and most important parts of your campaign is searching out and analyzing  any and all relative evidence of how severely and widespread this legislative restriction would affect your client in particular and  all farmers in general.
When you  have this information let other farmers and their organizations know about it .  This would be the beginning of the “partnering” phase we are going to talk about now.
Partnering:  Consider checking on the possibility of finding individuals or groups who  face the same problem .  You can bet that  potential partners who are sympathetic to your case and are willing to join you in the lobbying process can be found.     Where would you look?  Try the Association field.  Use the Internet which is one of the best  sources available,   public libraries, newspaper archives, lobbyist directory guides (available by city or state governments who require lobbyist registration) will tell you who in the farming industry  hire lobbyists.  You will be surprised how many agricultural  or farm associations are listed.  Anyone of them could be a real help to you.
The more and stronger connections  you have will strengthen your chances. Checking the Official Directory of Lobbyists in California. The very first listing I found in that category was  the  Californnia Cattlemens Association.  An obvious partner to consider.
Also listed  were 69 other farm associations,  all who hire lobbyists  who are registered to lobby in California.  SUPPOSE that you found an Association in need of lobbying help . You are retained.
After arming  yourself with necessary argumentative information, what do you do then?  Don’t forget there is always a time llmit on challenging something like this. You are seldom blessed with a leisurely approach with any legislature.   Once a bill becomes law, it is firmly cemented in place and most difficult to change or repeal.
Without admitting that you are  not yet fully imbued with many good legislative  contacts, you may ask your client if he has any good friends or connections in the legislature.  If he can honestly say, sure, Congressman Blank is a good friend, I’ve worked and voted  for him every time he has been up for re-election. Good, so how would  your client feel about making a call and arranging a first time appointment?  He will have to explain the purpose of your visit and the member may or may not be on the Agriculture Committee, but it’s a start.
He will know others in that House who are on the committee and it would behoove him to do a good turn for a constituent.,  Particularly, someone who has supported him in the past.
This should happen only after you as the “lobbyist in charge” has done sufficient research and probing into the problem to be able to answer any detailed questions asked of you.   That first contact may be a little scarry but meetings with members and staff are absolutely essential.
When you have succeeded  in making an appointment with a legislator its vital that you make every minute they give you count. Be friendly, courteous and respectful. But don’t squander time with political party or weather talk,  pointless or ineffectual comment, just remember you are  talking with someone with great responsibilities and many demands upon their time.  It is vital  that you briefly,  and factually outline the problem your client is facing. Let them know how you need their help, how much it means to the farming industry, what it would mean to a public that might face higher prices if unfair limitations are imposed upon farmers.  Be direct and don’t be afraid to ask for their advice and support.
Maybe this should be said later, but I wanted to say it now.
During a meeting with a legislator or a staff member, many questions will be thrown at you. Some, you are prepared for; others cause you to draw a blank; Don’t make anything up; certainly don’t give an answer that may prove incorrect or untrue. When
that happens and it will don’t be afraid to say “I’m sorry but I don’t know” .
An honest admission is far preferable to stuttering  or avoiding the question or even giving an incorrect answer.  When  you have to admit you don’t have the answer,  immediately follow it up with “IAt this point I don’t know but Ill have the answer on your  desk tomorrow morning”.
Primarily  you have to find out who the author/authors were who supported this bill  in the first place; what was the committee vote when it was passed favorable by that important group; Who voted for it?  Who voted against it.  Now you will have a better idea where to start. On the committee maybe the vote was 7 for it and 5 against.  Does that mean you have 5 members who may be on your side?  Find Out.
Just a word about a campaign to alter or repeal a law of such far reaching importance as this, its all the more important for you to align yourself with those in the farming industry who are equally affected
You should analyze how much time and traveling is involved on the case, and quote a fair price for your services.  Just a word of caution.  NEVER, never, under estimate your fees on the basis that you want to do your client a favor or you are afraid you might not be hired.  I learned this the hard way. Some time I’d like to share that with you.
Your time and expertise are valued commodities and are generally appreciated as such by clients. Just as their interests are valuable to them , you are representing their interests so if you devaluate your fees, you have unintentionally devaluated your client’s interests as well.
If your services are to be calculated on a per diem basis or a fixed rate over a specified period of time,  arrive at a fair and equitable daily rate in advance.
Are you being retained on a monthly basis? If so, be certain your contract spells out the terms and conditions relative to time required and the expense allowance, if any.  You will know, as will your client  just how lengthy the case may become.  Whether you work for a month or 12 months, the remuneration must be spelled out and agreed to by both the lobbyist and the client.
We have a lot to talk about in future series but I want to make this information as valuable as I can for you and your potential lobbying career. as possible.  If, for some reason you find you are not interested, please let me know and no further issues will be sent. Next month  we will cover getting into the campaign on a fulltime and active basis.

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To answer many of our readers who have asked “where does the lobbying profession go from here?” The quick answer is RIGHT ON!

Has the profession suffered such unwarranted and undeserving criticism that it will never recover? NOT SO , BELIEVE ME.

The thousands of honest and ethically principled lobbyists have continued to actively represent their clients as they have for many years. Ask around and you find them

doing the research, contacting others with the same problems,

working on coalitions that can be brought into play and prove helpful, and

making honest efforts to reach the appropriate committee, house member or

senator, who would be of assistance to their client.

Sure there will be times when a member will ask a lobbyist to remind their client that he is up for re election and any financial help he could give would be appreciated. Sometimes this is a possibility, sometimes not. This request is both understandable and not out of line.

However, if the legislator bases his willingness to give a further interview without a definate pledge of a contribution, look out,you can’t count on those whose vote is for sale.

The important thing most legislators realize is that they are not elected to wholesale their influence or their vote and a lobbyist or a lobbyist’s client should never harbor the idea that throwing cash around is the end objective to getting their way.

The temptation can and does occur but the lobbyist must walk a tight wire to make sure they don’t end up like those lobbyists now doing time for the same thing.

Ethics in lobbying is just as important to it’s future as it is in the professions of law, medicine architecture, or any other indispensable service.

There is positively nothing new or really sinister about contributing to a political officeholder if it is not tied to ultimatums. Over the years I’ve been through that situation many times. On the federal level as well as state and local governmental offices.

The big boys lobbying from their million dollar K street offices lost very little sleep over recent bad publicity. They knew, because of their connections on the hill that they could weather the storm of public indignation. I t was their business to know who was vulnerable and who wasn’t.

On their staff and generous payroll were well known political names of many that answered “present” on House or Senate Roll Calls just a few weeks or months ago.
Now, they were considered super lobbyists. Their legislative soul brothers on the hill accord them many of the same privileges and “right to enter” that they enjoyed as an elected member. Rights, by the way denied to the thousands of Washington’s registered lobbyists.

It is a well known fact that others contemplate the day when they too will leave Congress to register and join the line up for top dollars regularly paid to former legislators.

And so, to answer the question a little more succinctly, the lobbyists that play by the rules of ethics and resist the temptation to put their career and their profession on a perilous line are here to stay. And don’t let the media or any other force of public opinion tell you differently .

Para Lobbying may just be the engine that assists that beginning.
Our next step will be to seek the assistance of forward thinking Active Lobbyists in determining their unfilled needs. Questions are being prepared and a list of
twenty five to fifty lobbyists will be selected to interview.

We hope you will keep in touch and feel free to email us or participate in this blog. Its your instrument to maintain a good lobbying relationship.

Regards, Stan Long

Constitutional amendment 1 - BILL OF RIGHTS

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise of, or abridging the right of free speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,”
When writing the Constitution the author’s intentions could not be clearer.
In just four lines, found easily within the Bill of Rights we see the safeguards set forth to protect our right to worship; the right to hold opinions and the right to freely speak of them , the right to peacefully assemble and express those viewpoints and to make use of the right to petition the government demanding redress of our grievances.

HOW DOES THIS AMENDMENT AFFECT LOBBYISTS?

IN MANY WAYS. To make his case the lobbyist must use the right to choose
his words and arguments and deliver them honestly and effectively. To forbid his right to express his viewpoints and that of his client denies him full use of the right to petition the government which as the constitution wisely points out, is clearly protected in the First
Amendment.
In publicly lambasting lobbyists they are in a sense admitting to a certain
duplicity when they fail to admit they have been a party to a certain quid pro quo .They may or may not have used their power to encourage a political contribution. They may or may not have been wined and dined expensively or taken a trip at the expense of someone who needed their help and their vote. The perks of an office holder are
many. They have increased staggeringly from one administration or one congress after another. The so-called ethics bill to rein in lobbying influence was one of the hardest
fought battles because one office holder after another had objections to any amendment that took away any of the “goodies.” Want a good laugh? Only after debate serious to command consideration of an international incident, did they all finally agree they would keep in the amount lobbyists could spend on gifts, luncheons etc but the one thing they
would not give up was: Accepting complementary tickets to sporting events,concerts and shows. This was something that just went to far for some of them. Imagine,  a lobbyist could no longer offer them box seats at a world series game or golf tournament or football playoff? That amendment was defeated. The whole thing is a mockery. According to a bill, signed into law the other day, a lobbyist can go to lunch with a Senator but he has to take along his client or his mother-in-law who will pick up the check when it comes. The same is true with fundraisers, no longer can they pressure lobbyists to act as their personal bagman and go out and collect checks to be handed over. Then too, lobbyists are not supposed to attend fundraising events but they can be called to round up a table from their client’s company.
Its no small secret that money buys government. It does now and always has.
The fact that the race is on in both parties for presidential candidates for their parties nomination to try to exceed that of their opponents and brag about it in the media. Millions and millions of dollars are collected. Do you think with the high cost of election campaigning that they are going to change that way of doing business? As far as political campaigns are concerned, it’s a travesty to think that only the highest spender has the highest chance first of becoming the candidate and secondly must be prepared to spend his/her way to the White House.
Unfortunately, when it comes down to standing up to substantial changes in how we
elect those who swear to serve the public free and clear of any obligation to anyone
regardless of whether they were contributors or not, just wait until they have been
in office a short while, that is when they hold their first birthday fundraiser which some have at least twice a year. Then see where they and the public stands.
There is probably only one solution to political campaign financing and that is
Public Financing. That is being considered more and more and sooner, the better, it will be enacted. Several candidates expressed a similar views and this years financial debaucle may cause some remedial action.

I’d like to tell you something of a personal nature that happened to me during my 34 years of lobbying experience. I was quite active politically in Los Angeles, when I wasn’t in Washington or our state capitol in California
Much of what the L..A. city council did was of serious concern to my business clients. As do most active lobbyists, I established a good reputation with all of the fifteen members, plus the Mayor’s office. One councilman was a good personal friend with whom we socialized occasionally, He also had a small breakfast group which he formed, and we met once or twice a week or breakfast in city hall. There were eight or nine of us and a good time was usually had by all. One morning I brought up, half jokingly the fact I had received the announcement of the councilman’s coming fundraiser. I said,” well Hal, I see your dinner has gone up in price to $500 a plate. I don’t know if I can afford that.” Dead Silence. He looked at me to see if I was serious and quietly said, Stan, you and Gail are our good friends and you will always be welcome, paying or not, at any of my affairs. Everybody looked around to see what I would say, when he continued, “However Stan, you may never get another vote out of me.” Everybody laughed, but I still kind of think he was only half jesting. Politics is a rough and tumble game but one which one can play ethically and efficiently . That’s why my wife, Gail and I decided, after semi retirement,that we would write a book on the subject. We called it EVERYBODY LOBBIES because we are convinced they do. The result has exceeded our greatest expectation and we are grateful to the readers who purchased the book from
all over the United States.