Summary
Contents
Subject index
Spurred by the disconnect between what was being taught in the classroom and actual practice, Godwin, Ainsworth, and Godwin set out to answer the question, ôWas political science missing some key aspects of the interactions between lobbyists and policy makers?ö Built on interviews with over 100 lobbyists, these authors show that much of the research on organized interests overlooks the lobbying of regulatory agencies even though it accounts for almost half of all lobbyingùeven though bureaucratic agencies have considerable leeway in the how they choose to implement law. This groundbreaking new book argues that lobbying activity is not mainly a struggle among competing interests over highly collective goods; rather, itÆs the public provision of private goods. And more to the point, this shift in understanding influences our perception of the strengths and weaknesses of American democracy. Through a series of highly readable case studies, the authors employ both neopluralist and exchange perspectives to explore the lobbying activity that occurs in the later stages of the policymaking process which are typically less partisan, involve little conflict, and receive scant public attention. Lobbying and Policymaking sheds new light on lobbying influence on the policy process, and is an ideal way to expose students to cutting-edge research in an accessible, fascinating package.
Lobbying Alone or Cooperatively
Lobbying Alone or Cooperatively
The greatest uncertainty in Washington is not whether you will win or lose a floor vote, but whether your issue will be attended to at all.1
Our first task [to get policymakers’ attention] was to build a coalition.2
My [lobbying] firm does only one thing, we build coalitions.3
The conventional wisdom among Washington lobbyists insists that building and maintaining a cooperative lobbying effort is essential for lobbying success. For example, Bruce Wolpe, a longtime Washington insider and lobbyist, wrote, “The exacting measure of success in congressional lobbying is the ability to create, join, or manage coalitions united behind a public policy proposal.”4 Many lobbyists and scholars argue that large coalitions provide evidence to policymakers that a policy proposal has widespread support.5 ...
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