It’s time to restrict lobbying expenditures
Point of view Lobbying

By Phil G. Busey

Published: October 6, 2008

"D.C.’s election blame game” (Opinion, Sept. 29) talked about the importance of lobbyists in Washington. While lobbyists have been a part of the government scene since the beginning, the past decade has witnessed unprecedented growth in lobbying influence for special interests. I don’t disagree that lobbyists can serve an important roll for taxpayers, but the reality is the most influential special interests have dominated lobbying activities and money talks.

With new ethics reforms in Washington, the foxes in the hen house are trying to police themselves. It isn’t enough to fix a broken system. A big business now stands between voters and Congress. Lobbyists still roam the halls of Congress representing a multibillion-dollar industry that reshapes how laws are passed, diminishing the influence of individual voters with priorities of special interests.

The drug lobby alone spends more than $100 million a year in campaign contributions to protect their industry. Influenced by this powerful lobby, the Medicare drug bill has fueled pharmaceutical profits in the multibillions, much higher than projected. Congressmen said the lobbyists basically wrote the bill. The whole process was driven by special-interest dealings. This is system out of control.

Lobbyists, bankrolled by special interests, assert influence much greater than in proportion to their actual representation. This alarmingly shifts power to special interests away from voters. We need to be concerned. The primary accountability of Congress should be to the people. If we can’t hire a lobbyist, we may not gain clout to be heard. A company with an issue was told it is better served going through a lobbyist "because the congressman trusted him.” What about trusting the people who elected him?

Cities and states spend taxpayer dollars in record amounts for lobbyists to secure federal tax funds to the tune of $1 billion annually. Proponents say it’s the only way to compete. Opponents argue the ultimate losers are taxpayers. The Center for Public Integrity reports that more than 122 Oklahoma businesses, tribes, agencies and schools alone spent $37 million lobbying for federal dollars from 1998 to 2004. The Wall Street Journal reports funds for lobbying, the highest ever at the national level, topped $2.36 billion in 2005.

It’s time we demand accountability and reforms for a big business standing between us and our representatives. Congressional ethics reforms are a start. Special interests can only exert huge influence if we let them. There is no influence greater than educated voters. While we face budget shortfalls and economic crisis, it is time to restrict lobbying expenditures. It is time to be heard.

Busey is chairman and CEO of The Busey Group of Companies, in Oklahoma City.

Comments