Lobbying Arms Race - Local Governments Seek Influence via Contracted Representation
Troubling development in terms of worthwhile government spending. As article infers, why can't local officials just call on their fellow elected officials? They don't need to travel there, but simply get their needs known.
California
Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson lives in St. Helena and calls city
officials there by their first names. The Napa Valley town also is home
to a vineyard owned by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and
her husband.
Yet the town spent about $150,000 during the
first six months of this year on a Washington lobbyist, more than
Philadelphia or St. Louis.
St. Helena is just one of the
cities, counties and states that have ramped up spending on lobbying as
they look more to Washington for help in easing budget problems and
getting a leg up on the competition in the scramble for federal funds.
