Lobbyists. Pride and Prejudice

Gossip and rumours

December 2015

Who are lobbyists and what do they do?

Not many people know. And certainly very few people are aware that lobbying is closely connected to the exercise of democracy.In Italy political culture is loath to acknowledge that interested groups are organised and talk to political decision-makers in order to promote their viewpoint and interests.Lobbying is often considered a distortion of the democratic model based on political parties as the sole representatives within the institutional framework.So, is the term lobbying beginning to loose its original, negative connotation?

Lobbyists

We’re not talking here of broads, booze and bribes

1882The reporter Edward Winslow Martin labelled lobbying as “broads, booze and bribes”.

Many people still think that being a lobbyist means attending social gatherings, going to dinners, spending all day in fashionable venues near the palaces of power and sipping champagne with persons of influence. Times have changed.

Lobbysts’ job

When interviewed by The Telegraph on 3 September 2013, Andrew Lansley – Conservative Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2015, Secretary of State for Health from 2010 to 2012 and Leader of the House of Commons from 2012 to 2014 – stated:

“I want to make it clear that the lobbying sector does an important job. It is very useful to the government

to hear the views of a broad range of groups to make sure we get the best”.

“Professional lobbyists know their territory. They make very efficient use of their client’s time.

They can find out where your problem lies, who to talk to, and what questions to ask. They can tell you what information you need to have, and what questions you

will have to answer. You will find out who you have to convince and why. Essentially, they guide you through

the jungle of government and public opinion”.

The Honourable John Reid, in The Question of Lobbying, March 2008.

The handbook of the good lobbyist. Lesson n. 1: preparation

“One of the biggest challenges for people when they’re faced with a public policy issue is defining what

the issue is from the perspective of people in government. I think the main thing a client should be looking for

in a lobbyist or a government relations consultant is for help to think the way people in government

have to think when they’re looking at an issue. It’s the only way you’re going to win the day

on an issue”. Sean Moore, Principal of Advocacy School in Ottawa.

The handbook of the good lobbyist. Lesson n. 2: perspective

“The average American doesn’t realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists”.

Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO and now President of the Board of Directors. Interviewed by Atlantic Magazine on 1 October 2010

“Lobbyists generally know they have got to present information in a truthful way. Otherwise

they lose their credibility, and if they lose their credibility they lose their access. The key to the

success of a lobbyist is access”. Mark Mallory, Ohio State Senator, in The Lobbyist’s book of quotes, June 2010.

The handbook of the good lobbyist. Lesson n. 3: legislative drafting skills and credibility

Is it a cultural problem?

“Lobbying usually elicits negative comments from the Italian public that associates it with manipulation or conflict of interest. Instead I believe that we need to achieve transparency in Italy, but also in Europe”.

MP Marina Sereni, Democratic Party, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies. Interview published in the newspaper Il Tempo, December 2014.

“Politicians take advantage of the fact that lobbying is not regulated and blame lobbyists for their own inefficiency. A measure is not approved? Lobbies are responsible. A bill is stopped? Lobbies are responsible. Lobbies have become the shield politicians hide behind; they’d rather not upset certain people and or take responsibility for their choices”.

Prof. Pier Luigi Petrillo, teacher at the Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome. Interviewed by the newspaper La Repubblica, March 2015.

«“It’s a question of political and cultural tradition shared by both Catholics and communists since they both have a negative approach to wealth. Almost as if were inevitably a sin. In addition, we

have to expiate for our hypocritical approach: we make money, but couldn’t care less about how we make it.

So a lobbyist is a sinner and lobbying means reaching one’s goals by hook or by crook”.

Prof. Ilvo Diamanti, Professor of Political Sciences at the University of Urbino and Régimes Politiques Comparés at the University Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas. Interviewed by the newspaper La Repubblica, March 2015.

Hypocritical approach

“The President is the people’s lobbyist”. Hubert H. Humphrey, 38° Vice President of the United States from 1965 to 1969.

“Lobbyists are as much a part of the political process as are Congress and the executive branch.

Much of the information decision-makers in Washington use to decide issues comes from Lobbyists”.

Jeffrey A Birnbaum, Columnist. Interviewed by Luxner news, October 2014.

“Lobbying is part of the democratic process and something to which parliamentarians are accustomed. Their ability to separate the wheat from the chaff

should not be underestimated”. Letter to the Financial Times by Julian Priestley, Secretary-General of the European Parliament, 25 January 2006.

… or a problem of democratic tradition?

Anonymous

After successfully getting their big line items approved in the congressional spending package, two lobbyists were celebrating at a Washington restaurant:

“You know ‒ mused one ‒ it’s a crying shame our grandchildren and great-grandchildren haven’t been born yet so they can see the terrific things

the government’s doing with their money”.

«Government relations is a test of how you manage frustration”.

“Nine times out of ten Ministers side with their officials. Do you want a 10% or 99%

chance of success?”.

A little… self-inflicted satire

I’ve finally found a good job at the Region… As an archivist.No, as a lobbist.

I’m part of the most powerful lobby on earth… the lobby of the unemployed.