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The opinions and commentary contained here are those of the author alone, who makes no claim to speak on behalf of other students, faculty, or administration at the School. Blog: Classroom to Capitol Topics:. Follow my blog. Blog at WordPress. Follow Following. Classroom to Capitol Join other followers. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress. Log in now. For example, Toyota, creator of the eco-friendlier Prius, joined other carmakers to lobby against tougher fuel economy standards in the United States, according to an article in the January 17, , issue of The Economist.
In alone, U. Seventy percent of these European lobbyists represent a business interest, whereas only 10 percent work for social issues. These vast quantities of money—both in the United States and Europe—flow with little public accountability, note two British research organizations, SustainAbility and AccountAbility. Yet corporate advocacy need not always be self-interested.
Some companies, such as Mary Kay, are using their face time with lawmakers to lobby for good. Traditionally, nonprofits promoted social issues in the halls of power. But corporations, with their carefully cultivated connections, wider lobbying leeway, and proficiency in influence, are often better equipped to make the case for stopping domestic violence, improving safety on the roads, thwarting climate change, and fostering economic development—to name just a few social change efforts.
Accordingly, some companies are steering government dollars to social problems, changing laws, and encouraging new approaches to government services. At the same time, some nonprofits are finding that the fastest path to the heart of legislation may be through corporate partners with political clout.
Sometimes corporations send an army of blue-suited lobbyists; other times all that is needed to turn the tide on an issue is a simple letter, phone call, or voice on a committee. Not all corporations lobby for good in the same ways, however. These categories are the same ones that Michael E.
To do the most good, companies need to shift their CSR activities to those that align most closely with their business operations and goals. In the meantime, though, they can upgrade their philanthropy and other activities that focus on general social issues by adding their unique talents, rather than just their large pocketbooks. Mary Kay has also fought breast cancer by lobbying Texas and federal lawmakers to provide insurance coverage for mammograms, to require physicians to explain treatment options to patients, to open rural screening programs, and to increase research on breast cancer.
In exchange, Mary Kay has enjoyed not only a boost in employee morale, but also opportunities to know elected officials. Although focusing on generic issues may not be the best CSR strategy for companies, the reality is that companies will continue to contribute to local or global issues because of tradition, CEO whim, or employee commitment.
As the Mary Kay example shows, nudging government at all levels can have large impacts on the issues a company cares about. Lobbying for good is an innovative way to reduce the negative value chain impacts of products and services. Even more valuable, though, is a company that uses lobbying for good to create new standards for entire industries. The company that pushes for improved standards can create competitive advantage for itself and safer, more environment-and consumer-friendly products and services.
The Cartoon Network is one company that is using advocacy to mitigate its value chain footprint. Nearly 40 percent of U. Using its reach into 91 million American homes, the campaign has turned parents and kids into unofficial lobbyists. Kids can download letters to send to their teachers and school board members, encouraging them to advocate for the return of recess. On-air specials, public service announcements, sponsored events, and grants likewise encourage viewers to get involved.
The Rescuing Recess campaign has been around for only a few years, but early results are promising. Close to 2, schools have registered for the campaign, and eight state boards of education have responded to more than , campaign letters.
In New Jersey, a parent-backed petition to bring back recess to elementary schools stirred politicians to create a task force on student recess.
The benefits to Cartoon Network are also starting to flow. The network has received 22 awards from organizations such as the U. Lobbyists React Former Florida legislator-turned-lobbyist John Thrasher thinks the laws have affected the way lobbyists do business, but he downplays the effect. Rather than run for another office after being term-limited out of the Legislature, he joined the lobbying firm Southern Strategy Group.
Having been on both sides, the best you can do is to have a good academic argument and to tell the truth. But Mike Feeley, former Colorado legislator and now a lobbyist for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, says a Colorado law approved in has changed the environment.
The constitutional amendment—considered one of the strictest ethics laws in the nation—bans gifts from lobbyists to legislators. The do-gooders feel better. But the amendment has a negative impact on making public policy and on government officials. The gift ban produces unnecessarily awkward social situations, he says.
The amendment gets in the way of efficiently conducting business—all in the guise of making us more ethical. Jennifer Flanagan, executive director of Colorado Common Cause, sees it quite differently, saying lobbyists dominate Colorado politics and gain access that most citizens do not have. The most recent state to tackle major ethics issues is Louisiana. The governor called legislators into special session in to consider at least 28 bills that concerned lobbying.
What emerged were more thorough and frequent disclosure requirements. Reports must be filed monthly and electronically. Extending the Net The latest trend is placing procurement in the category of lobbying.
Bartz, of State and Federal Communications Inc. They are being regulated more and more. She also sees more states requiring disclosure by lobbyists of their income and the costs of grassroots lobbying, which are efforts to encourage citizens to contact their elected officials.
Restrictions on lobbying do not include only the private sector. At least 12 states address the use of public funds for lobbying. These restrictions can include prohibiting the hiring of contract lobbyists by the executive branch, a measure being considered by Mississippi.
Iowa prohibits a state executive agency from using public funds for a paid advertisement or public service announcement to encourage a specific action on a bill 30 days before the legislative session.
Myth 2: Lobbyists are liars, cheaters focused on bending government to their personal interests. The negative perception is that they are the dark side of any political engagement, that when they are very good at their job they can influence not only government policies but also force cultural change. Certainly like every profession there are those individuals we could do without, but generally, lobbyists are a smart and strategic group of communicators doing good work.
Given the complexities of the government, it is not unreasonable to assume that an organization might seek the assistance of those who specialize in understanding government to represent them. Paying someone to lobby or accepting money in order to lobby is not suspicious behavior. Despite this, lobbyists carry with them the expectation of bad behaviour.
What other communications professional is obliged to complete a public expectation of their activities and intent before and every time they initiate their business practice?
Another pervasive myth that surrounds government relations is the discussion of access. The myth runs something like this, a good lobbyist is someone who can get you access to government officials. What this implies is that access is limited, content irrelevant and objectives extraneous. It says that your issue, its effect on the public and any informed solutions you may to offer are irrelevant if you don't have a personal friendship with the right government official or enough cash to hire the right lobbyist.
Having a lobbyist with good contacts in government can facilitate the timing and effectiveness of your meetings, speeding things along, but it shouldn't be and rarely is, a requirement for meeting with elected officials or civil servants.
Lobbyists get all kinds of flak for being intellectually promiscuous and ethically-lacking, because people assume they work for whichever, and however many, corporate clients that are willing to pay them. Some lobbyists do have a stable of different corporate clients. But many lobbyists work in-house. And it's not just corporations that hire them.
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