It's no secret that lobbyists use money to influence how lawmakers vote on legislation affecting the special interests that the lobbyists represent. But what are we to make of it when elected lawmakers' own staff members plead with lobbyists to exert even more influence on Washington?
It's hard to imagine, but ABC News says that's what happened.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is chairman of the most important subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and his staff member wrote a troubling e-mail that was obtained by ABC.
The staff member "called for a meeting of lobbyists and interest groups that would be affected by expected cuts to the Labor and Health and Human Services budget," ABC reported. In stark contrast to Republicans' proposed spending cuts, the e-mail declared that increased spending "improves the chances for every stakeholder group to receive more funding."
Not surprisingly, roughly 400 lobbyists accepted this "red-carpet invitation" and showed up at the gathering, which was labeled a "call to arms" against Republicans' proposed cuts.
But don't lobbyists already have far too much say over legislation in Congress? Is it desirable to hand them even more influence in the lawmaking process? Shouldn't the focus be on defending the national interest, rather that lavishing subsidies and favors on narrow special interests?