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From former Rep. Bill Sarpalius (D-Texas):
I served eight years as a Texas state senator, six years as a U.S. congressman and the past 10 as a paid lobbyist. My career has been built on garnering the support of elected officials regarding issues that were important to my constituents and are currently important to my clients.
I began my race for the Texas Senate with $25 in my “campaign account,” no name identification and a very popular incumbent as an opponent. I was elected at the age of 31 and found myself dealing with thousands of political issues on which I had to vote in the best interest of my constituents. As with any elected official, I relied heavily on my staff to research and educate me on all bills and issues. And I quickly learned the value of a lobbyist.
Good lobbyists do their homework and help members of Congress understand the impact of legislation, the outcome of which citizens must live with every day. Good lobbyists understand the industry or organization that he or she is representing. Good lobbyists are great sources of information. Good lobbyists are factual. Good lobbyists are truthful. Good lobbyists help members of Congress understand an issue.
Recently, there has been much bad press relative to lobbyists; however, many fail to realize that these lobbyists are working in the best interest of the American people. Many well-known associations such as AARP, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the National Education Association and the American Healthcare Association, to name only a few, represent the general public and its interests through lobbyists.
Lobbyists provide valuable information regarding food safety. Lobbyists provide information to protect senior citizens and have worked diligently to educate Congress relative to available and affordable healthcare. Lobbyists provide valuable information regarding defense issues, educating members and staff about new technologies for planes, ships, weapons and training. Lobbyists educate Congress relative to education, research, the space program, business development, business corruption, etc. … There are lobbyists educating members and staff on the pros and cons of abortion, gun control, tobacco, Internet use, healthcare, use of pharmaceutical drugs, retirement benefits, and again I could go on and on.
Not all lobbyists are bad and crooked, and they should not be painted with the same brush as Jack Abramoff. What is bad is the method that some lobbyists such as Abramoff employ to influence members of Congress. It is against the law for a member of Congress to receive cash from a lobbyist other than the allowed maximum annual campaign contribution of $2,000. If this is violated, then the lobbyist and the member of Congress should go to jail.
The American people should be able to trust the members of Congress. After all, these elected officials are instrumental in establishing and transforming the laws of this country. It is unfortunate that individuals such as Abramoff, who apparently lacks any and all ethics, abused the system and his clients.
A lobbyist is required by law to report for public record his or her clients, how much he or she was paid for these services and who was lobbied. A member of Congress is also required to report for public record the amount of money and gifts received. Perhaps Congress should focus on those who abuse the system and do not follow the reporting requirements.
Washington
Balance is needed in baseball comments From Stan Kolbe:
While Duncan Spencer has every right to oppose the new stadium and Major League Baseball and shower favorable comments on anyone working against them, including Marion Barry, I think the commentary could be more balanced.
Further, in Spencer’s columns we have come to expect frequent and inaccurate slams against the stadium and team. For example, in the current issue (“‘Windfalls can vanish,’ budget guru Rivlin warns,” HillScape, Feb. 15) he includes the estimated cost of the stadium with many other projects burdening the city’s budget, although the funds dedicated to paying the financing costs of the stadium exceed the finance fees and are not from general revenues, nor could they be used for general purposes if the stadium and team disappeared overnight. This type of inaccuracy could give one the impression that opposition to the stadium, the Nationals and baseball moved The Hill to forget the need to balance opinion with the facts.
Thank you for considering that baseball and the South Capitol Street development may create new jobs, windfall revenues and a new neighborhood where a slum has existed for decades with little concern until now.
Washington
Stick to movies, George From Michael Tomlinson:
Who really cares what George Lucas thinks about politics (“‘Darth Nancy’ strikes back,” Under the Dome, Feb. 14)? He’s nothing more than a moviemaker. Big deal!
If Star Wars is some kind of quip on politics, it proves one thing: The big-government left and Nancy Pelosi (who looks like the emperor with a face lift) are really dangerous to freedom and individual rights.
Since he likes tax increases so much, let’s levy a 50 percent flat fee on all of Hollywood and its products.
Crownsville, Md. |
