Worth noting that lobbying isn’t just bribery—it’s also about being able to connect lawmakers to experts (or, if you’re less ethical, “experts”). Yes, you need to do the “real work” of having policy positions and reading proposed legislation etc. But you also need to invest money and effort into communication, networking, and generally becoming a Schelling point—experts need to know who you are so they can become part of your talent pool, and lawmakers need to know that you have expertise on some set of topics. This is probably the best excuse for all those fancy dinners we associate with lobbying firms—it’s not bribery, it’s advertising. Meanwhile the lobbying firm needs to know who is receptive to them, and try to work with those people.
Worth noting that lobbying isn’t just bribery—it’s also about being able to connect lawmakers to experts (or, if you’re less ethical, “experts”). Yes, you need to do the “real work” of having policy positions and reading proposed legislation etc. But you also need to invest money and effort into communication, networking, and generally becoming a Schelling point—experts need to know who you are so they can become part of your talent pool, and lawmakers need to know that you have expertise on some set of topics. This is probably the best excuse for all those fancy dinners we associate with lobbying firms—it’s not bribery, it’s advertising. Meanwhile the lobbying firm needs to know who is receptive to them, and try to work with those people.