It turns out that lobbying isn’t just a growth industry in Washington, D.C. In 2005, $560,000 was spent to lobby the Kansas Legislature, down from $593,000 in 2004. But in the first eight months of 2006, lobbyists already have spent a record-breaking $885,000 on food, drinks and other tools aimed at delivering their clients’ message to state legislators. The largest reported increase has been because of the $412,000 spent so far this year on media campaigns, many related to telecommunications legislation, in which constituents have been urged to encourage their lawmakers to do this or that.
Of course, legislators argue that lobbyist dollars don’t buy votes. But as Sabrina Standifer, the Wichita attorney who chairs the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, told Harris News Service: “People need to be aware that there are large sums of money being spent to try and influence legislation.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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19 Comments
Increased competition means bribing politicians costs more. Oops, did I say bribe? I meant lobby.
How many of those “lobbying” dollars were laundered through conservative non-profits and ended up in Tiahrt’s pocket? We already know that Tiahrt received thousands directly from felon Jack Abramoff (Tiahrt insists he’s innocent), so how much remains unaccounted for?
State slogan:KANSAS: BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY (INSERT BUSINESS NAME HERE).
I found it interesting to hear Sabrina’s comments. She did not mind taking the money and gifts from lobbyists when she was a legislator.
Perhaps she has specifics that she would like to identify for us? Is she referring to the money that is given to different groups and then funneled to a candidate to bypass the donation limits?
The donations you see on a candidates campaign finance report is interesting to see because you get an idea as to how many individuals donate as well as how much out of state money is received.
What you don’t see is the money that exceeds the donation limits. Such as the money Ruffin has funneled to the Sebelius campaign or Tiller by donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to other groups that in turn transfer the money to the intended candidate.
If that was addressed by the legislature then we would have true reform.
Perhaps Sabrina can enlighten us on her campaign receipts and what campaigns she sees being influenced?
AIPAC is considered to be the most powerful Lobby in Washington and is working overtimes to reelect Bush’s favorites back to congress.
Bush gives Israel anything it asks for.
Evangelicals Christian Voters should know that prostitution is legal in Israel and the Human-trafficking level of “tier 3″ { the worst } which the US State Department has listed Israel was do, in part, to the solicitation of women, many from Russia, on J-dates with free-trips to Israel only to wind-up in many of Israel’s Whorehouses.
Gee, I wonder if [R} Senator Jim Talent of Missouri knows what-all a trip to Israel might include?
US Congressmen do make a lot of trips there.
As a matter of fact Israel grades its support though AIPAC, in part, on how many trips candidates do make to Israel, and, of course, whether or not they sign bills supporting funding demands.
BTW, Rice had Israel moved-up to tier 2 so as not to have to impose sactions on Israel for slave-trading { Human-Trafficking }.
As I read Rhonda Holman’s comments and followup comments on this thread, I see no mention that many lobbyists are government employees spending tax dollars for their efforts. I have observed that sometimes their efforts are in direct opposition to the interests they are representing. I’m not saying that governmental agencies don’t need to educate legislators on important issues. However, there must be a better way such as holding legislator/lobbyist (without food and alcohol) seminars to explain goals and provide information.
I wonder what the political system would be like without the lobbying system?
Our rotten political system is in its death throes and I can’t wait until the final nails are hammered into the coffin!
Viva la Revolucion Blanco!!
I find it reprehensible that even cities must hire lobbyists to be able to get their wishes known.
After all, isn’t “representative government” supposed to REPRESENT the people? Very sad commentary when voters/people have little or no say in the legislature.
Raptor there is no more “representative government” it is all me-me-me the hell with you government.
Tiarht ran on term limits but has yet to even think about not running again for office – and you wonder why? Look at all these millions that he can just tap into and not give one thought to us Kansans back home.
One way to clip this boy’s wings is to not vote for him but also to hope and pray more Democrats across the country vote in Democrats. That way, the power will shift and Tiarht will not have his powerful little perch to be sitting on top of anymore.
Sigh, we have yet another fool who believes that the demorats are part of the solution rather than a huge part of the problem.
Viva La Revolucion Blanco!!
A lobbyist is nothing more or less that someone who has raised money from people who believes in the cause. Whether it is NRA or NEA. My factual lobbyist is your evil influenser.Republicans/Democrats give to who they belive will lobby their cause. In other words, tell their concerns. The real question is if anybody in the state of Kansas can be shown to be corrupt. I don’t think that can be shown, Republican or Democrat. If corruption can be shown, then get it on, but stopping lobbying just for the sake of stopping lobbying hurts both sides of the political equation.
Obviouly Ian did not read my entire posting – I don’t believe Democrats are the total solution. My point is that Republicans have had total control for 6 years. If you truly believe in the Founding Fathers’ democracy, then you would want a balanced Congress.
That was and is my point. I’m registered Independent but until we have a 3-party system in this country, I have to decide what is best for the overall picture.
“I’m registered Independent but until we have a 3-party system in this country, I have to decide what is best for the overall picture.”
Can’t happen, won’t happen, for lots of practical/structural reasons primarily (the reality of single-member districts), as well as political reasons (the two major parties putting hoops up for 3rd parties). a better option is to get involved in the candidate selections process; i.e., get involved in intra-party politics and vote at the primaries.
Hotlick is right; a “special interest” is the guy working for the other side. MY guy is speaking for the people! ;-).
I’d note that petitioning the government for the redress of grievances is constitutionally protected. Dollars buy access. Whether they buy votes is another matter.
And the public is in control of this. If you think your representative is on a lobbyist’s takes (presumably a “special interest”, not one you agree with), vote him/her out. Problem solved.
Good point GMC. An approach might be to register in the ‘locally-minority’ party and then run for nomination. Then, even if you get trounced in the general election you now exist within that party. With that you might be able to nudge it toward the center.
I’ve always found the history of lobbying and lobbyists interesting. Personally, I think we should enforce limits on the amounts and types of funds used. It’s definitely gotten out of hand.
From Wikipedia…**Folklore stated by publicists for the Willard Hotel holds that “lobbying” originated at that accommodation as Ulysses S. Grant used its lobby repeatedly to drink brandy and smoke a cigar during his term as president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. Grant was often approached there by those seeking favors. However the verb “to lobby” is found decades earlier and did not originally refer to Washington politics. The word “lobby”, used in the political sense of “those who seek to influence legislation” has been used since 1808 or earlier in American English, in reference to the custom of influence-seekers gathering in large entrance-halls outside legislative chambers. The verb in this sense is first attested 1850. “Lobbyist” is first attested 1863.**
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying
Hey Kelly I heard that your friend Walt Chappell who says that he will not take any money from lobbyists not only sent a letter to the lobbyists but he has also been wined and dined by the lobbyists.
Now this would not be a big deal if he had not made such a big deal out of saying he was not taking any money from the lobbyists. So much for honesty. Hehehehehehh!!!
“I have observed that sometimes their efforts are in direct opposition to the interests they are representing.”
JWink, truer words were never posted. How the hell is a little town supposed to fight the entire kansas water office when those phuckers LIVE in topeka, schmooze the legies day and night, and have the budget and time to drive to Garden City to lobby ONE vote against Cedar Bluff.
Short of renting a topeka apartment and buying a copy machine, how do you out lobby a state agency?
The answer is… you dont.
You just work to defeat the people who put them there.
Interesting comments on the front page of the Salina Journal this weekend from Rex Buchhanan of the KSGS.
“what goes on in Trego county affects you…”
First they came for Cedar Bluff, and no one spoke up for us.
When they come for YOUR water…
….perhaps no one will still be around to speak up for you!!!!