Tonight on KVNU’s For the People…
Mitt Romney is leading in the latest polls in Michigan, but does he absolutely need to win Michigan in order to be a viable candidate?
We’ve got the latest poll numbers from the Washington Post and ABC News.
State Senator Wayne Neiderhauser of Sandy will join us to discuss his proposed legislation to put government expenditures online.
Is our State Legislator for sale to lobbyists and business interests? You might be surprised at the large numbers of gifts and money conveyed to legislators.
All of that, your phone calls and more, tonight on KVNU’s For the People!
On the bribery issue. I understand your concern about gifts to legislators. I believe in limits and transparency: everything on the internet, full disclosure, short turn around time.
Generally, this ‘gifting’ aspect of the equation comes from the business community. It is how the business community works with each other so when they move into the legislative realm they behave the same way. (ie, no conspiracy here)
But that is only part of the story. What about the citizen activist side of things? For years, the Eagle forum has haunted the halls of the legislature. Do they represent all people? You have cried foul when businesses put out memos and press releases giving their perspective but activist groups threaten legislators regularly. This is even more prevalent on the local level when one adhoc minority gets wound up enough to storm city hall. The rest of the community remain unrepresented.
Does one justify the other? Of course not. Does one balance or offset the other? Often, but usually not perfectly. Do I have an answer? No. But I can tell you that cutting off one lobbying methodology while leaving another will create a very lopsided situation.
David,
As always a thoughtful post. Thanks.
The foundation of your argument (one form of lobbying – gifts – being as valid as another – political activism) is one I reject.
You are correct to not that political activism often represents a vocal minority and not necessarily the will of the majority. This is true whether we’re talking about a couple of retired couples complaining to Logan City about inner Logan or the Utah Eagle Forum in the Legislature (I have been told by more than one legislator the UEF’s actual infuence outside of Utah County is greatly exaggerated).
There is a fundamental difference between gifts and activism. Activism, even if it is only a political minority is largely based upon the merit of policy. UEF will argue the issue itself and if that fails they essentially will threaten Legislators with political retribution. Only those members who actually face a real threat will respond (the Utah County delegation), while others – including our own Cache Valley representatives generally blow them off. Either way, the influence is based upon the merits of policy and representing the people.
The influence of a gift is based upon reciprocity, not upon the merits of a cause or representing the people. The business community does use gifts, but in a very different way. A businessman may develop a relationship through gifts, but he will not return favors unless the transaction is also in his favor. An elected official is a steward. Therefore, his bad decisions don’t necessarily harm him and he might be willing to create bad policy in exchange for some floor seats to the Jazz game.
In short, David, I reject the arguments that activism and gift giving are comprable. I also reject paralells drawn between business gifts and legislator gifts.
David,
You are right on on the gift aspect growing out of business. Buying lunch, sending gifts occurs all the time. There is no great conspiracy.
Ryan
Tom,
Gifts or activism have at their roots the desire to influence the political process. From that base perspective, they are the same. As I said originally, however, I don’t put them on the same level. But as I also pointed out, if a business got some of its employees to storm the legislature, you would cry foul as well. (And more than likely the employees would be acting in their self interest as well as the business leaders.) Remember, businesses are just groups of people.
It is interesting that every social institution known to man works to exert influence. Families (everything from parental discipline to Christmas GIFTS), religion (scripture is replete with threats of punishment and promises of God’s GIFTS), schools (grades, parties, sponsorship of groups/clubs and other GIFTS). Government extends huge influence as well although generally negative (restriction of rights to begin with, punishment and further restriction of rights if we break laws. But how we all look forward to the GIFT of a tax refund. We can pay for all our Christmas GIFTS). Some of us hope for a balance from government of as much freedom as possible in a somewhat orderly society. That would be a great GIFT.
But in your perspective, influence from some citizens on government should be severly limited. I repeat, my perspective is for some limits but more importantly disclosure. The ultimate limit is at the ballot box. And this does work. Almost every election, some official gets tossed because he or she crossed the line.
So Tom, I reassert my hypothesis. Activist pull in support with gifts (magazines, memberships in organizations, parties, recognition, awards, etc) and then go storm the capital with gift built pressure on legislators to do or die politically. Businesses, who start with a disadvantage (they are only in it for money), chart a more direct course. Influence is the foundation of all approaches. Limit, disclose and give all the most equal footing possible in the race to influence the political process.
The biggest difference between business gifts, corporate lobbying, and citizen activism, when it comes to legislative influence, is that ANYONE can become a citizen activist, while only the wealthy can lobby and give gifts.
Activists should not be lumped in with “gift givers” simply because activist groups don’t represent everyone, only the specific issue for the activism. That lack of activist representation is a failure of the public to get involved in their own political system. But still, it is not expensive, and literally anyone with the drive to do so can create an activist coallition.
Depends on how you value your time. And any citizen can afford a couple Jazz tickets. Apparently that’s all it takes to get whatever you want in this state…
So anyone can give gifts (including the pies from little old ladies and cards from school children). So this really does boil back to a semi-class warfare–money (ie business) is bad and must be regulated and put down.
We need be skeptical on a broader basis and create answers that don’t isolate one group of people. Think about this from a perspective where you see citizen activists as groups such as the Eagle Forum–see if your answers are the same or if there is a bias in your perspective.