Research Briefing

Christmas Came Early For Lobbying Industry As Obama’s “Change” Turned Into Record Profits For Lobbyists

OBAMA’S CAMPAIGN PROMISE: “We’re Going To Have To Change The Culture In Washington So That Lobbyists And Special Interests Aren’t Driving The Process.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Second Presidential Debate, Nashville, TN, 10/7/08)

GIVES WAY TO CHICAGO-STYLE REALITY: White House Advisor David Axelrod: “I think Every Senator Uses Whatever Leverage They Have To Help Their States. That's The Way It Has Been. That's The Way It Will Always Be.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 12/20/09)

2009: “THE YEAR OF THE LOBBYIST”

MSNBC’s Dylan Rattigan Dubbed 2009 “The Year Of The Lobbyist.” MSNBC’s Dylan Rattigan: “And speaking of bribing. Lobbying, the Washington job that’s worth every darned penny, if I don’t say so myself. I’m new to the game, but boy, I’m impressed by the return on investment when you lobby Washington, D.C. We crunched the numbers and wait until you see the returns. Makes that tech bubble of the 90’s look like amateur hour. We’re calling it the year of the lobbyist. But my goodness, this may well be their decade.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Meeting,” 12/22/09)

Because Lobbying Industry Is On Track To “Shatter Last Year’s Record $3.3 Billion Spent To Lobby Congress And The Rest Of The Federal Government.” “Washington’s influence industry is on track to shatter last year’s record $3.3 billion spent to lobby Congress and the rest of the federal government — and that’s with a down economy and about 1,500 fewer registered lobbyists in town, according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics.” (Victoria McGrane, “Lobbyists On Pace For Record Year,” Politico, 12/22/09)

• Through The First Three Quarters Of 2009, Groups Spent $2.5 Billion. “Groups spent $2.5 billion during the first three quarters of 2009, which is a slightly faster quarterly pace than 2008, according to CRP.” (Victoria McGrane, “Lobbyists On Pace For Record Year,” Politico, 12/22/09)

Lobbyist: “It’s Been A Tremendously Busy Year, And It’s Going To Keep Getting That Way.” “‘We’ve never had as good a year,’ said one lobbyist whose shop deals mostly with financial services and health care issues. ‘It’s been a tremendously busy year, and it’s going to keep getting that way,’ the lobbyist said, noting that both health care and financial reform will remain active as congressional action moves from drafting legislation to implementation to the inevitable fixes.” (Victoria McGrane, “Lobbyists On Pace For Record Year,” Politico, 12/22/09)

Director Of American University’s Center For Congressional And Presidential Studies: “It Is The Most Active Time That I Have Ever Seen In The Advocacy Business – From 1973 On.” “‘Lobbyists love it ... when you’ve got an activist agenda like this, and you’ve got serious problems like this, and people want to do something about it,’ said James Thurber, director of American University’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies. ‘It is the most active time that I have ever seen in the advocacy business — from 1973 on,’ Thurber added.” (Victoria McGrane, “Lobbyists On Pace For Record Year,” Politico, 12/22/09)

FLASHBACK: OBAMA WAS GOING TO “CHANGE THE CULTURE” AND CURB SPECIAL INTERESTS

During The Campaign, Obama Said Lobbyists Shape The Way Health Care Works And “We Have To Change The Culture.” Obama: “That was a give away and part of the reason is because lobbyists are able to shape how Medicare works. They did it on the Medicaid prescription drug bill and we have to change the culture.” (Sen. Barack Obama, First Presidential Debate, Oxford, MS, 9/26/08)

Obama: Americans Need People Thinking About The Middle Class “Not Just Those Who Can Afford To Hire Lobbyists.” Obama: “You need somebody working for you and you've got to have somebody in Washington who is thinking about the middle class and not just those who can afford to hire lobbyists.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Second Presidential Debate, Nashville, TN, 10/7/08)