The second category of professional advocacy is lobbying advocacy. Lobbying is considered specialized due to the manner in which it is perceived given the American public’s expectations of private and public sector interface.
Lobbying advocates are required to register with the Senate Office of Public Records in accordance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. This register facilitates transparency in the lobbying sector. The Office of Public Records documents which individual and which organizations lobby specific bills and other government action items. They also document how much time and money was spent lobbying. This type of advocacy is defined by statute. However, lobbying advocacy can be measured by specific metrics. The
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lobbyists’ specific intent is to successfully convince a decision-maker to decide an issue in the manner presented and on the basis of the lobbyist’s subjective position. The specific metrics include those listed under the Baseline Advocate. However, there are additional metrics: (1) registration as required by statute; (2) compliance with restrictions pursuant to applicable law and regulations; and (3) full disclosure and transparency of the companies and bills lobbied. Lobbying originated in the 19th-century when individuals would gather in the “lobby” outside of a legislative chamber in hopes of meeting legislators or political decision-makers. As efforts to influence legislators grew in popularity, the public grew skeptical of the aspect of lobbying that was associated with gift giving, favors, and campaign contributions as a quid-pro-quo for their vote and continuing support. The American public views favors to the decision-makers, elected and nonelected, as inappropriate. The result is that lobbyists as a group are maligned. As the media reported on these practices, lobbyists became subject to increased scrutiny and assertions of unethical behavior. The U.S. began the process of defining appropriate and inappropriate activities in the Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act of 1946. The statute required the lobbyists register with the government. Further, registered lobbyists were required to report contributions and expenditures when lobbying a government decision-maker. Several iterations of the statute were enacted governing the lobbyist’s behavior and their activities. As a result of cumulative attempts to regulate lobbying and reform unfair practices, all lobbying and associated records are available for public inspection at any time. This has resulted in many creative interpretations concerning lobbying vs. advocacy vs. education, activities. These factors will never change. As it relates to lobbying, advocacy, and education, clarity will always be regarded as suspicious by the American public. They all have a potential “gray” interpretation as many are incentivized to ensure “gray” is there! Subjectivity associated with a lobbying campaign should be assumed by the target of the lobbying campaign unless objective analysis is provided. Lobbyists by nature are subjective. They hold a specific stance on an issue and intend to influence the decision-maker towards making a decision that supports that stance. There are various approaches to lobbying a policy maker that holds a position on a specific and pending legislation, a policy, or a regulation in an attempt to influence a government decision-maker’s position. Generally, there are two approaches. Direct lobbying is any effort to influence legislation through communication with any member or employee of a legislative body, or with a government official or employee who may participate in the formulation of legislation or a regulation/policy that implements statutory intent. Grassroots lobbying is any effort to influence legislation through an attempt to affect the opinions of the general public or any segment of the general public. The difference between the two is that direct lobbying is the time spent persuading a legislator to act or not to act, and grassroots lobbying involves persuading other people to contact legislators to influence the public policy process. Lobbying Advocacy in the Non-Profit Sector Lobbying advocacy is an effective way for non-profits to create awareness about how a community is either positively or negatively impacted by public policy, and to generate interest in and support for an organization’s mission. The American public does not clearly understand the significance and contribution of the work of lobbying advocates because the lobbying profession has received such an unfavorable reputation due to negative attention the actions of a few highly publicized individuals over time. Just like any other salacious, profitable industry [i.e. investment banking, hedge funds, venture capital, acting, etc.] throughout our nation’s history, non-profit and grassroots advocacy has led to fundamental and constructive public policy reforms in our society. Throughout history, non-profit advocacy played a critical role in ending slavery, securing the right of women and Blacks to vote, technological energy and environmental improvements, advancements in workforce compensation policy, and creating consumer protection standards. At all levels of public and private decision-making, non-profit advocacy work has made a positive difference for many causes, communities, and individuals.
By examining case studies and success stories, the general consensus is that charitable non-profit advocacy is under-utilized, under-researched, and under-funded. The need for increased advocacy was discussed in a survey report developed by CLPI with Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Civil Society. The report states that many charitable non-profits indicated an interest and even a duty to engage in the democratic process, but most devote less than 2% of their annual budget to this activity. The survey participants identified increased funding for dedicated advocacy staff and for general support as the top two changes that would enable them to engage more robustly in the government’s decision-making …show more content…
process. The following define actions of a lobbying advocate: • Asks a government decision-maker to vote for a bill or policy and take a specific position on the policy change. • Asks other stakeholders and individuals in general public to contact decision-makers to support a specific position. • Sends a letter to a government decision-maker and other issue stakeholders requesting them to take a supporting position on the issue of interest. Lobbying Reform The lobbying reform movement is continuously controversial. President Obama was the first President to state on record that his administration would focus their efforts to ban lobbyists and close the revolving door would be a priority. The rationale was to enhance government transparency. President Obama signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13490, which banned federally registered lobbyists from being appointed to federal advisory boards and commissions.
The initial principles of E.O. 13490 were to reform lobbying by adjusting how business was conducted between the private and public sector while also preventing national agenda issues from being altered disproportionally in favor of special interests.
However, the Administration’s fervor for lobbying reform has eroded over time and the President’s views became less intense. His lobbying reform priority has transitioned from once banning registered lobbyists from serving in the federal government to restricting registered lobbyists’ roles in the federal positions. Due to loopholes, lobbyists have the option to de-register as a lobbyist, or be issued a waiver categorizing them as “uniquely qualified” lobbyists.
Obama’s intent was to lessen the clout of special interest groups’ influence on the public policy process. Practically speaking, there were unintended consequences that the Administration recognized. Removing lobbyists that understand the specifics of certain industries’ issues, and their realities, limited the quality of information decision-makers had during their deliberations on complex issues. If appointees who have the best command of the breadth of specific issues critical to decision-making in the public interest are banned, the government is ill
served.
...agree with President Obama’s tactic of addressing Congress and persuading them to pass the Affordable Care Act. Neustadt stated in his book one of the effective ways presidents can bargain with other members of government which is “ …the bargaining advantages inherent in his job with which to persuade other men that what he wants of them is what their own responsibilities require them to do.” President Obama addresses Congress’s responsibility to represent the interest of the people in order to pass the legislation.
As seen quite often in the Obama administration, legislation gets stuck and lost in Congress due to the polarization of the parties in recent years. In Obama’s case, he has frequently threatened to go around the House and Senate if they could not reach an agreement or would shoot down his plans. Cato’s Pilon points out, however, that the hurdles of Congress are no mistake. Pilot states that the framer’s of the Constitution knew what they were doing, and this was intended to keep the checks and balances as well as accountability to the public (Lyons,
Essentially, interest groups use many different tactics to accomplish their central goals but this paper will detail 2 of them. The first being lobbying, which is the act of persuading businesses as well as government leaders to help a specific organization by changing laws or creating events in favor of that group. Interest groups use this technique by hiring someone to represent them and advocate their cause to on the behalf of the entire group. These hired representatives usually have more than enough experience within the political field and are able to persuade connections within the government for help with their concerns. This method gets a lot of criticism because although lobbyist offer their input to government officials on pending laws, they only look at what is favorable for their cause. When trying to make a difference you have to not only reflect on your argument but on the side affects of that argument as
Hamilton provides an inside look at how congress really works and clears up popular misconception that make members of congress look like wasteful bickering crooks that support gridlock and are only concerned with the needs of interest groups and lobbyists. Hamilton argues that Congress has changed for the better throughout the years and that they are held at higher standards than they were before. Hamilton states that Congress is not only working at keeping the public happy but that have recently become faced with a lot more issues than before, they are not only more issues but more complicated and technical that are very high risk policies that take a long time to produce a decision (Hamilton, 1988, 65). Hamilton states that Congress is a system in which the viewpoints of everyone are taken into account and make sure there is a consensus when it comes to defining decisions. Even though many of us acknowledge that lobbyist and special interest groups play an essential role in the law making party, Congress is making an effort to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard. Congress is making sure that the balance of power is distributed properly. In recent years, there has been a decline in mega-lobbies and interest groups so that not only the wealthy powerful get their voice heard, but the everyday american people get an opinion in things that affect them as well. In Gary Lee’s article, The NRA Has Lost some Firepower, we can see that interest groups are beginning to have less of an influence on larger political decisions (Hamilton, 1988, 65). For example, the National Rifle Association’s defeat in the battle over the “Brady bill” and their war towards trying to revamp Medicaid was a great loss for lobbyists and
Interest groups, lobbyists, large corporations, and PACs try to influence the congressional committees' bills so they can have a say in the legislative process. When an interest group hears about a bill that is being debated on in a committee, they try to influence a members vote and they try to get a part of the bill changed. For example, a lobbyist came to me on a bill I proposed on making health care plans have no minimum requirement on benefits the company gives to its patients. He told me about how he did not get the right treatments and tests done on diseases he has and now is suffering badly from them. It was because the health plan did not have to give him anything extra. He changed my mind on the bill, and I changed the bill to setting a minimum standard on benefits given to patients.
The nonprofit sector in America is a reflection some of the foundational values that brought our nation into existence. Fundamentals, such as the idea that people can govern themselves and the belief that people should have the opportunity to make a difference by joining a like-minded group, have made America and its nonprofit sector what it is today. The American "civil society" is one that has been produced through generations of experiments with government policy, nonprofit organizations, private partnerships, and individuals who have asserted ideas and values. The future of the nonprofit sector will continue to be experimental in many ways. However, the increase of professional studies in nonprofit management and the greater expectation of its role in society is causing executives to look to more scientific methods of management.
Presidential Influence in Congress." American Journal of Political Science 29.2 (1985): 183-96. JSTOR. Web. 19 May 2014.
These pluralistic interest groups are free to operate and lobby in the political arena, fighting against the majority and other competing factions for voice in Congress. With the influence of multiple factions operating throughout the political system, a balance of power is created (Kernell 2000, 429). This is much like the international theory of sovereign states balancing each other’s power to create a political system that focuses on stability, yet is always in a constant flux of power. With this in mind, special interest groups are constantly contending for power by raising money, campaigning, and lobbying in Congress. When a special interest group is threatened by a competing policy, the group will organize efforts to balance, or transcend the power of the competing group.
In the early years of 2009 to 2010 the political process pushed health care through legislation led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Health care and government, 2013). This process was extraordinarily tiring, as many defenders of the bills passing were present. Many congressional members “dug their heels in”, and wanted to slow down the process even more as confusion about the bill was posed (Health care and government, 2013). Despite opposition by many sides of the American people, a Democrat-dominated House of Representatives passed the bill and the Affordable Care Act was signed into action on March 21, 2010 (Hogberg, 2013). Indeed, all three branches of government were instrumental with the passing the Affordable Care Act into place.
In today’s politics, interest groups play a large role in the government system. An interest Group is defined as 'an organized body of individuals who try to influence public policy.' This system is designed so that interest groups would be an instrument of public influence on politics to create changes, but would not threaten the government much. These organizations are either made up of people who represent a different organization or people who represent themselves. Interest groups represent the citizens’ interests and views, while expressing their own needs as well. They are the link between people and politics, giving a way for the public to voice their opinions. Members of interest groups use different tactics to basically impose their wants or needs onto the government by lobbying, educating, and campaigning.
Prior to this new law, it was found that the federal department of health insurance had been regulated mostly at the state level. Indeed the executive branch needed continuous public input and collaboration with other industries, but none the less enforcement became even more compelling. Creating new designs to customize Medicare payments for example needed to only be through certain providers according to Snyder (2010). This gave the executi...
“The most important and fundamental difficulty facing healthcare reformers in America is that our system of government has multiple veto points: the separ...
Picking and choosing battles to fight is very important for the executive if they hope to cause real change for the people. In Rudalevige’s book, he gives advice to future presidents and said, “Too few priorities may be better than too many, usually, presidents should choice the targeted “refile” approach over firing a less focused “shotgun” blast legislative proposals at congress” (Rudalevige, 437 – 438). A ‘refile approach’ offers more emphasis on certain subjects of importance and can sometimes lead to more congressional approval. The executive branch must continuously evaluate which issues will most likely to get greenlighted fight harder for and note policies to give up on temporarily. Today, we have learned there are more powers to the executive branch than previously known to battle against congressional
...k for big business, a private individual, or even the public. The goals and strategies are the same for all lobbyist. Foremost, they must be very good at the art of persuasion, the mainstay of their job. They figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent. In our American democracy, people that are not elected representatives shape the laws of our country. If we continue down this path, our democracy will also one day be extinct. We need to get back to the roots of democracy and remember what the true meaning is. Power to the People!
Advocating is part of social work, successful advocacy depends on a network of individuals who educate themselves on the issues and contact their elected government officials. However, the key point of it all has to be committed. We must strive for the well-being of people despise the feeling that we might feel because of the role of government and policy. We must commit on the way we make a stand for what we believe in.