For lobbyists, the cost of doing business in Washington could hit a record $37.4 million during the current two-year election cycle, according to a report released Monday by government watchdog Public Citizen.
Since 1998, lobbyists have made more than $77.1 million in personal contributions to lawmakers whose work they attempt to influence, and their political action committees, according to the 71-page report. When contributions made by the PACs of the firms the lobbyists work for are added to the fray, the figure jumps to $103.1 million.
Lobbying, always a hot topic in Washington, became even hotter in January when Jack Abramoff became the very public face of a wide-reaching influence-peddling scandal. The former lobbyist pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Indictments in connection with the case have continued steadily in recent months.
Abramoff’s plea deal sparked several failed attempts in Congress to pass lobby-reform legislation that would lessen the influence that lobbyists have over lawmakers.
“It was a jolt to members of Congress who they themselves were concerned with getting caught in this,” said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. Her organization has been one of the top advocates for lobbying reform.
“Now that the scare has worn off, the perks are more important than reform,” Claybrook said.
Abramoff ranked No. 30 in Public Citizen’s report for his contributions of more than $180,000, all to Republicans.
Only a small number, 6 percent, of the 27,121 lobbyists who have registered with the federal government since 1998, have contributed $10,000 or more. About 7,350 lobbyists have contributed at least $200 to a congressional candidate or PAC. Only contributions of $200 or more are reportedby the Federal Election Commission.
Paul Miller, president of the American League of Lobbyists, a trade organization that represents 800 lobbyists, called the report “misleading.”
“Are we supposed to make campaign contributions to members of Congress who we don’t support?” he asked.
The top lobbyist donors include No. 1 ranked H. Stewart Van Scoyoc, who gave more than $339,000, and Daniel Mattoon, who gave more than $302,000.
Neither Van Scoyoc, who has lobbied on behalf of Raytheon and scores of other clients, nor Mattoon, of well-known lobby shop Podesta-Mattoon, returned phone calls. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., was the top beneficiary of Mattoon’s generosity, with donations totaling about $38,000. Mattoon has been an adviser for Hastert. Hastert’s office did not return a phone call.
Miller said the contributions from Mattoon to Hastert, or from any lobbyist to lawmakers, should not be cause for concern until they prove themselves to be so. He did not dismiss the possibility for influence buying.
“I think there’s always going to be the potential for that,” Miller said. “That shouldn’t mean that he’s all of a sudden doing something wrong. He may have a relationship with the speaker that goes way back.”
Public Citizen’s report, “The Bankrollers”
» 27.1 percent, or 7,350, of the 27,121 people who have registered as lobbyists since 1998 contributed at least $200 to a single congressional candidate or PAC.
» Contributions by lobbyists and their firms’ PACs almost doubled from $17.8 million in the 2000 election cycle to $33.9 million in the 2004 election cycle. That total could top more than 37.4 million for the 2005-06 election cycle.
» Since the 1998 election cycle, the contributions by lobbyists and their firms’ PACs to Republicans have outpaced contributions to Democrats 56.6 percent to 43.4 percent. Thus far in the 2006 cycle, contributions to Republicans exceed contributions to Democrats 61.5 percent to 38.5 percent.
– Public Citizen is a nonprofit, public-interest watchdog. It was founded by Ralph Nader in 1971.
