Thread by @SallyAlbright, I might not have the nuts and bolts right with what I'm [...]

Sally Albright

SallyAlbright

I might not have the nuts and bolts right with what I& #39;m about to describe, so jump in with any details I have wrong, but here& #39;s something people need to understand -

"Lobbying reform" made everything worse.

Let me explain.

1/

When I was a lobbyist, I could buy lunch. I could buy dinner. I could pick up a bar tab. I could maybe buy a souvenir or something like that. It was all disclosed.

I had to know what I was talking about over dinner or drinks. If I didn& #39;t, they would eat, drink, and ignore me.
2/

That pisses people off, but that& #39;s how you do business - you break bread with people. You have drinks with people. Lobbying was a business like any other.

Then they changed everything.

3/

Now, if you want to have a meal or have drinks with Members or staff, it has to be campaign related.

So company reps can still buy dinner and drinks, but they have to also bring a campaign check.

So instead of being policy-oriented, these outings are arranged by fundraisers
4/

I don& #39;t see how this is better. I see it as far more transactional.

When it was my job, it was about building relationships. It& #39;s not about that any more. So someone with my job goes in and has a boring meeting, then someone else brings a check later.

See the problem?

5/

Campaign contributions and lobbying weren& #39;t UNrelated, but it wasn& #39;t like it is now.

Companies made decisions about who they would donate to and how much based on voting records, of course, but it wasn& #39;t like this.

Now it& #39;s "Here& #39;s what we want, and here& #39;s a check."

6/

I haven& #39;t been in the lobbying business for awhile, so this is a rudimentary explanation. I welcome anyone who can fill in the blanks, but my point is this-

Just bc something sounds good "Lobbyists can& #39;t buy drinks" doesn& #39;t mean it solves a problem. It can make things worse.
7/7

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