What does a lobbyist do?
450018
A lobbist roams the hallways of capital buildings in Washington D.C. and state capitals. They are hired by certain individuals, usually big businesses, to get politicians to vote in favor or against a certain bill being voted on. Certain lobbist make lots of money. If they have strong contacts in government they could sway votes on certain bills. Some of the bills up for a vote could be unimportant for a certain politian but the lobbyist wants to get that vote in his favor.
1066904
Contact your local congressperson.
882027
I feel Congress truly represent Special Interest Groups/Lobbysists more than the citizenry.  Theses special interest groups are SUPPOSED to have our best interests in mind, and some do such as the American Lung Assoc., etc...but not Alcohol, Tobacco, Insurance lobbys.\n\nThe rich/corporations: overrepresented\nPoor/Small businesses: underrepresented
1088797
Practically? Yes.\n\nThey discuss what they should vote on. They 'make stuff' to vote on and they vote. That's about it if you want the very simplistic version.\n\nIt is called representing the voter. You (if you did that) voted for that man or woman so he/she can represent you in congress. It is your congressperson. The only power he/she has is the vote realistically speaking.\n\nBut.. to be able to vote they have to know whats going on so... 99% of the time they sift though tons of information to at least seem informed. They fight of lobbyists.. or have dinner with them. Get hounded by the press because they said something stupid.\n\nBut basically you are right. What a senator is there for is to vote.
793460
You might look in the areas of corporations.  I think too many Veep wannabes have read the Prince, since it is all about manipulation.  You might even consider the aspect of Bill writing, and the manipulation that Lobbyists partake of that particular well.
921220
Unless you know some lobbyist, the only way is through your MP/Member of Congress OR by writing a letter to the editor of a respected agricultural magazine and getting it published.\n\nAnything else is likely to get lost in the volume of correspondence, and that is true no matter how good your submission.\n\nAs always, it's who you know, not what you know, that counts for more.
170951
Jack Abramoff is a Lobbyist which means people pay him money to get him to convince lawmakers to support, oppose, or draft legislation. The problem is he did a lot more than that and a lot less than he promised his clients. \n\nHe had especially been accused of defrauding his clients, the Choctaw Indians of Mississippi, after charging them $80 million dollars to promote gambling interests.\n\nHe has plead guilty to to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in a deal that requires him to provide evidence about members of Congress.\n\nThe bill of rights protects lobbyists when it gives the right to "petition the government for a redress of grievances" but the Constitution does not allow the rich to buy the government.
524379
Sorry until we change the way the President can campaign a honest man would have a hard chance. Right now Sponsors (called Lobbyist) pay for their campaigns-they do it for getting people on their side (their interest) Example- Exxon and Oil companies give a lot (would their candidate vote any different than for the ones putting them there and keeping them there on issues. Pharmaceutical (anougher biggie) will make sure laws do not stop their profits.  To be fair -it should be TV debates (paid by taxes maybe) no one gets more or less-just tell what they represent. This way big favors are not owed to the Lobbyist before the get in. An honest Man would have a hard time without their support money (we cannot compete to give more than the big companies-look what Exxon made in profits. )Sorry until the way changes-everyone in power owes favors.
214382
Get to K Street.  I know a good lobbyist.\nBut it would be kinda cool to take a well armed Baltimore Clipper armed with 9 pounders, a 12 pounder carronade on a pivot and go on a little cruise.  " clear for action !"
896329
Both are corrupt, rich, and bow to lobbyists.  I dont think any one party is better than the other.  Its more of a matter of getting sick of the corrupt policies of one party, then giving the other guys a chance to corrupt the system in their own way.
852894
No one can expect all 500+ Representatives and Senators to be experts on all topics.  Each of them are assigned to multiple committees; these become their specialties.  These committees then explain the intricacies of each topic to the members of other committees.  They then make their votes, often trading support to gain votes for bills they support.
637065
VOTING!   Besides that, you can contact your rep's, contribute  time and/or money to candidates that have similar beliefs as you do, etc...
768014
Please name me (with supporting sources) even a single Democrat in Congress that has never taken a $$ from a lobbyist?\n\nI worked in Washington, DC for 3 years which included visiting both houses of the Congress and the White House. My job was to speak with elected and appointed officials about the views of the company I worked for in California.\n\nNot a single Democrat or Republican ever failed to keep an appointment with me.  A few even came off the floor to speak with me.  Now tell me things have change even in the 18 years since I left that job.
353170
I volunteer, I write letters to my representatives (local, state and federal), I write letters to the editor, I contact friends with information I believe they would find useful, I participate in forums like this, I give money, I give time, I protest, I demonstrate, I challenge the status quo, I drive a rolling political statement...\n\nI do everything I can for the causes I believe in.
708212
Eventually I think it will.  It will take a while for the lobbyist to turn them but most of them will turn corrupt as money and power seem to have that effect on humans in general.
614820
It depends what their job description is.\n\nSome help manage an MPs time, sort out meetings etc.\n\nOthers help draft new proposals, private members bills or speeches.\n\nSome work for local authorities, councils and the like doing day-to-day administrative jobs. Basically any 'emination of the state' employs civil servants - people tend to think of them just as the ones at Whitehall but there are far more than that.\n\nA lot seem to want to run the country
701578
politicians make the laws, and they always protect themselves. congress is exempt from every law it passes! and the big money ministers (aka televangelists) put so much money into the pockets of politicians that they are virtually above the law.