Who are lobbyists and what do they do? Many people still think that being a lobbyist means attending social gatherings, going to dinners, spending all day in fashionable venues near the palaces of power and sipping champagne with persons of influence. Times have changed.

1. Lobbyists.
Pride and Prejudice
Gossip and rumours
December 2015

2. Who are lobbyists and what do they do?
Not many people know. And certainly very few people are
aware that lobbying is closely connected to the exercise of
democracy.
In Italy political culture is loath to acknowledge that interested
groups are organised and talk to political decision-makers
in order to promote their viewpoint and interests.
Lobbying is often considered a distortion of the democratic
model based on political parties as the sole representatives
within the institutional framework.
So, is the term lobbying beginning to loose its original, negative
connotation?
Lobbyists

3. We’re not talking here
of broads, booze and bribes
1882
The reporter Edward Winslow Martin labelled lobbying as
“broads, booze and bribes”.
Many people still think that being a lobbyist means attending
social gatherings, going to dinners, spending all day in
fashionable venues near the palaces of power and sipping
champagne with persons of influence.
Times have changed.

4. Lobbysts’ job
When interviewed by The Telegraph on 3 September 2013,
Andrew Lansley – Conservative Member of Parliament from
1997 to 2015, Secretary of State for Health from 2010 to 2012
and Leader of the House of Commons from 2012 to 2014 –
stated:
“I want to make it clear that the lobbying sector
does an important job. It is very useful to the government
to hear the views of a broad range of groups to make
sure we get the best”.

5. “Professional lobbyists know their territory.
They make very efficient use of their client’s time.
They can find out where your problem lies, who to talk
to, and what questions to ask. They can tell you what
information you need to have, and what questions you
will have to answer. You will find out who you have to
convince and why. Essentially, they guide you through
the jungle of government and public opinion”.
The Honourable John Reid, in The Question of Lobbying,
March 2008.
The handbook of the good lobbyist.
Lesson n. 1: preparation

6. “One of the biggest challenges for people when
they’re faced with a public policy issue is defining what
the issue is from the perspective of people in government.
I think the main thing a client should be looking for
in a lobbyist or a government relations consultant
is for help to think the way people in government
have to think when they’re looking at an issue.
It’s the only way you’re going to win the day
on an issue”.
Sean Moore, Principal of Advocacy School in Ottawa.
The handbook of the good lobbyist.
Lesson n. 2: perspective

7. “The average American doesn’t realize how much
of the laws are written by lobbyists”.
Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO and now President of the
Board of Directors. Interviewed by Atlantic Magazine on 1
October 2010
“Lobbyists generally know they have got to
present information in a truthful way. Otherwise
they lose their credibility, and if they lose their
credibility they lose their access. The key to the
success of a lobbyist is access”.
Mark Mallory, Ohio State Senator, in The Lobbyist’s book of
quotes, June 2010.
The handbook of the good lobbyist.
Lesson n. 3: legislative drafting skills and credibility

8. Is it a cultural problem?
“Lobbying usually elicits negative comments from
the Italian public that associates it with manipulation
or conflict of interest. Instead I believe that we need
to achieve transparency in Italy, but also in Europe”.
MP Marina Sereni, Democratic Party, Vice President of
the Chamber of Deputies. Interview published in the
newspaper Il Tempo, December 2014.
“Politicians take advantage of the fact that lobbying is
not regulated and blame lobbyists for their own inefficiency.
A measure is not approved? Lobbies are responsible. A bill
is stopped? Lobbies are responsible. Lobbies have become
the shield politicians hide behind; they’d rather not upset
certain people and or take responsibility for their choices”.
Prof. Pier Luigi Petrillo, teacher at the Luiss Guido Carli
University in Rome. Interviewed by the newspaper La
Repubblica, March 2015.

9. «“It’s a question of political and cultural tradition
shared by both Catholics and communists since
they both have a negative approach to wealth.
Almost as if were inevitably a sin. In addition, we
have to expiate for our hypocritical approach: we make
money, but couldn’t care less about how we make it.
So a lobbyist is a sinner and lobbying means reaching
one’s goals by hook or by crook”.
Prof. Ilvo Diamanti, Professor of Political Sciences at the
University of Urbino and Régimes Politiques Comparés at the
UniversityParis2Panthéon-Assas.Interviewedbythenewspaper
La Repubblica, March 2015.
Hypocritical approach

10. “The President is the people’s lobbyist”.
Hubert H. Humphrey, 38° Vice President of the United States
from 1965 to 1969.
“Lobbyists are as much a part of the political process
as are Congress and the executive branch.
Much of the information decision-makers in Washington
use to decide issues comes from Lobbyists”.
Jeffrey A Birnbaum, Columnist. Interviewed by Luxner news,
October 2014.
“Lobbying is part of the democratic process and
something to which parliamentarians are accustomed.
Their ability to separate the wheat from the chaff
should not be underestimated”.
Letter to the Financial Times by Julian Priestley, Secretary-
General of the European Parliament, 25 January 2006.
… or a problem of democratic tradition?

11. Anonymous
After successfully getting their big line items approved in
the congressional spending package, two lobbyists were
celebrating at a Washington restaurant:
“You know ‒ mused one ‒ it’s a crying shame
our grandchildren and great-grandchildren haven’t
been born yet so they can see the terrific things
the government’s doing with their money”.
«Government relations is a test of
how you manage frustration”.
“Nine times out of ten Ministers side with
their officials. Do you want a 10% or 99%
chance of success?”.

12. A little… self-inflicted satire
I’ve finally found
a good job at the
Region…
As an archivist.
No, as a lobbist.
I’m part of the most
powerful lobby on
earth… the lobby of
the unemployed.