| 00:00:19 |
HOST, -
BUT HE IS ACTUALLY FACILITATING IT. GUEST: LOBBYISTS REPRESENT NUMEROUS INTERESTS THAT CARE ABOUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING. HOST: THE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNMENT...
|
| 00:00:43 |
GUEST, -
MORE THAN $3 BILLION WERE SPENT IN 2008 ON LOBBYING. MORE THAN THAT WILL BE SPENT IN 2009. IT IS A LOT OF MONEY.
|
| 00:00:52 |
HOST, -
HOST: ONE EXAMPLE FROM YOUR PEACE, "COMPANIES HIRED 2340 LOBBYISTS SEEKING TO INFLUENCE CLIMATE CHANGE
|
| 00:01:04 |
GUEST, -
LEGISLATION IN THEIR FAVOR. IN TOTAL, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCE INTERESTS PAID $392 MILLION
|
| 00:01:13 |
HOST, -
ON LOBBYING AND GAINED $74 MILLION IN -- $74 BILLION IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS." GUEST: THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENS. HOST: GIVE US A CALL OR...
|
| 00:01:45 |
GUEST, -
COMING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT CREATING A WALL.
|
| 00:01:48 |
HOST, -
GUEST: AS THE CHIEF OF ETHICS SAID, THE PRESIDENT FEELS LIKE LOBBYISTS HAVE DISTORTED THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS. HE HAS TRIED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO...
|
| 00:02:10 |
GUEST, -
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE REGISTERED TO LOBBY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, THEY ARE WORKING AT THE ADMINISTRATION NOW. HOST: AMONG THE...
|
| 00:02:41 |
HOST, -
LONG TIME USER OF THEIR SERVICES. GUEST: THEIR NUMBER ONE CLIENT, BOSTON UNIVERSITY.
|
| 00:02:57 |
GUEST, -
THAT IS FOR CASSIDY. WHAT CAPACITY DID, HE IS ONE OF THE CREATORS OF THE EARMARKS SYSTEM, A TARGETED SPENDING
|
| 00:03:12 |
GUEST, -
PROJECT IN LEGISLATION. WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO FOR BOSTON UNIVERSITY WAS HELP THEM GET FUNDING FOR PARTICULAR EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS, FACILITIES, STUFF...
|
| 00:03:55 |
HOST, -
WAL-MART, $400,000. GUEST: THEY ARE DOING WELL IN THIS ECONOMY, STEPPING UP THEIR PRESENCE IN WASHINGTON. HOST: VIRGINIA, GOOD MORNING. INDEPENDENT LINE....
|
| 00:04:20 |
GUEST, -
DIFFERENCE? THERE IS NO BUSINESS. CAPITOL HILL POLICE NEED TO CHECK ALL OF THESE GUYS, CHARGE THEM WITH
|
| 00:04:29 |
HOST, -
TRESPASSING, AND HAUL THEIR BUTTS TO JAIL. GUEST: I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY. BUT ONE THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT LOBBYING IS PART...
|
| 00:04:54 |
GUEST, -
SECTION BETWEEN MONEY, LOBBYING, AND IF THEY WERE TO BE DIMINISHED IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY COULD GIVE, PEOPLE FEEL THAT THAT COULD GO A LONG ...
|
| 00:05:32 |
HOST, -
CHANGE THE UPTICK RULE, AND THEY HAD TO LOBBY CHRISTOPHER COX IN ORDER FOR HIM TO APPROACH POLITICIANS TO CHANGE THAT LAW, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU THINK CHANGED...
|
| 00:05:46 |
GUEST, -
TO GET THAT RULE CHANGED TO ALLOW THE HEDGE FUNDS TO ROB THE AVERAGE AMERICANS OF THEIR 401K MONEY? GUEST: THE HEDGE FUND INDUSTRY HAS BEEN INCREASING...
|
| 00:06:17 |
GUEST, -
HOST: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST, BARA VAIDA, PICK UP THE LATEST EDITION OF "NATIONAL JOURNAL." BOSTON, GOOD MORNING. CALLER: THE...
|
| 00:06:38 |
HOST, -
ALL INSIDE OF THIS LEGISLATION. THEY DROWNED OUT THE VOICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IF YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT A NUMBER OF THESE LOBBYISTS, EVEN IF THERE...
|
| 00:07:24 |
GUEST, -
SENIOR OF HIS APPOINTEES SO FAR, TO HUNDRED AND 67 SO FAR. 11%, YOU DECIDE IF THAT FULFILLS ITS PROMISE. HOST: YOU LISTED SOME OF THE NAMES EARLIER IN...
|
| 00:08:01 |
HOST, -
TODD STERN. THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES. ALL FROM THE LATEST EDITION OF "NATIONAL JOURNAL." GUEST: OUR LOBBYISTS ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF FOUR...
|
| 00:08:39 |
GUEST, -
THERE ARE LOBBYISTS FOR ALL KINDS OF INTERESTS. CATHOLIC CHARITIES. THE UNITED WAY. IN MARCH OF DIMES. THEY ALL PAY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE...
|
| 00:09:20 |
HOST, -
THROW THEMSELVES BEHIND WHY THEY SUPPORTED THE WAR. CONGRESS NEVER WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR IT IF THERE WAS NOT THE THREAT OF DESTRUCTION. WHY ARE WE NOT...
|
| 00:10:19 |
HOST, -
TO ADDRESS. HOST: ANOTHER POINT FROM YOUR REPORTING, "ALTHOUGH HE IS NOT
|
| 00:10:26 |
GUEST, -
A REGISTERED LOBBYIST, TOM DASCHLE, EARNING MORE THAN $2 MILLION AS A STRATEGIC ADVISER OF AUSTIN AND BYRD. " GUEST: THAT GOES TO ANOTHER
|
| 00:10:42 |
HOST, -
THING ABOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW WASHINGTON WORKS. THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY LEGAL ROUTE -- LEGALLY REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS LOBBYISTS....
|
| 00:11:01 |
GUEST, -
REQUIRED TO REGISTER. TOM DASCHLE PROVIDE STRATEGY. HE WAS PAID A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. MANY LOBBYISTS THINK THAT THEY ARE BECOMING UNFAIRLY STIGMATIZED...
|
| 00:11:46 |
HOST, -
I HAVE A SALES BACKGROUND. I UNDERSTAND IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH IMPORTANT PEOPLE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE STAND WHAT WAS SAID. IS...
|
| 00:12:24 |
GUEST, -
LINE. WHEN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING, IT WILL SAY TO WAS THERE, WHAT WAS DISCUSSED, AND THEY WILL HAVE TO GO ONLINE. THEY ARE STARTING TO DO THAT....
|
| 00:13:08 |
HOST, -
SMALLER CIRCLES INCLUDE LIVINGSTON GROUP, CORNERSTONE, MCBEE. THE LARGER CIRCLES INCLUDE QUEEN GILLESPIE, HOLLAND AND KNIGHT, CASSIDY AND ASSOCIATES,...
|
| 00:13:53 |
GUEST, -
HOST: AMONGST THE BIGGEST SPENDERS? GENERAL MOTORS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, PFIZER, GENERAL LECHTER, AT&T, THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,...
|
| 00:14:15 |
HOST, -
THAT HAVE SPENT A LOT OF -- GUEST: THESE ARE A LOT OF INTEREST THAT HAS BEEN A LOT OF MONEY OVER A LONG TIME. AS I SAID, THESE ARE INTERESTS THAT HAVE...
|
| 00:14:59 |
HOST, -
HAS ALWAYS GOT TO BE EXPANDING. IF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD JUST VOTE FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC INSTEAD OF WHAT IS BEST FOR CORPORATIONS,...
|
| 00:15:35 |
GUEST, -
WHAT ABOUT LOBBYISTS FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES? IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION WILL LESSEN THEIR INFLUENCE ON U.S. POLICIES? GUEST: SENATOR HILLARY...
|
| 00:15:56 |
HOST, -
UNITED STATES POLITICAL PROCESS WORKS. PART OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS THEY ARE PAYING SOMEBODY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW I BILL GETS THROUGH CONGRESS....
|
| 00:16:06 |
GUEST, -
INTERESTED IN TRADE ISSUES. THEY REALLY WANT TO BE THERE IN THE ROOM, THEY REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES HEARD WHEN TRADE...
|
| 00:16:44 |
HOST, -
AARP, $29 MILLION. GENERAL LECHTER, $18 MILLION. BOEING, A $16 MILLION. VERIZON, $13 MILLION. GENERAL MOTORS, $13 MILLION. COMCAST, $12 MILLION. THE NATIONAL...
|
| 00:17:30 |
GUEST, -
BUSINESS. THAT IS WHY THEY SPENT SO MUCH MORE IN 2008. HOST: WE WILL SHOW YOU THOSE AGAIN AS WE TAKE THE NEXT CALLER. GOOD MORNING. CALLER: LOBBYISTS...
|
| 00:17:56 |
HOST, -
IN TERMS OF LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD, IT ENABLED MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME CANDIDATES THAT DID NOT HAVE BIG MONEY BACKING, ENDING THE UNDUE INFLUENCE...
|
| 00:18:35 |
GUEST, -
MONEY FROM SMALL DONORS AND STOP RELYING SO MUCH ON BIG DONORS ON HEALTH -- ON HOPES THAT IT MIGHT LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. HOST: MD., GOOD MORNING....
|
| 00:19:08 |
HOST, -
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT. CLEARLY, IT IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN TERMS OF HOW THE LOBBYISTS MAY USE OR EVEN ABUSE THE SYSTEM. WITH THAT SAID, I...
|
| 00:20:36 |
GUEST, -
CACOPHONY -- IT IS A CACOPHONY OF NOISE. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD ABOVE OTHERS. I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION.
|
| 00:20:47 |
GUEST, -
HOST: STENY HOYER IS COMING UP IN ABOUT 38 MINUTES OF OUR "NEWSMAKERS" PROGRAM. THIS E-MAIL COMES FROM THE CITY THAT HE REPRESENTS. "DID HE KNOW OF THE...
|
| 00:21:10 |
HOST, -
ISSUE? WHEN DID HE KNOW? WHY DID HE NOT TAKE IT OUT"? GUEST: THAT HAS BEEN TOUGH THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON, LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT GOT INTO THE...
|
| 00:21:37 |
GUEST, -
HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT RESCUED THE COMPANY. THERE WAS A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO HONOR THEM. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT TREASURY ASPECT,...
|
| 00:22:18 |
HOST, -
THE SCARLET LETTER, AFTER THE LITERARY REFERENCE TO THIS STORY -- WELL, AT ANY RATE. SHE HANDED IT OUT TO
|
| 00:22:29 |
GUEST, -
SAY HEY, THIS HAS GONE A BIT FAR IN TERMS OF STIGMATIZING LOBBYISTS. WE ARE PRACTICING OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. HOST: YOU WRITE "THERE IS NO DOUBT...
|
| 00:23:04 |
HOST, -
CALLER: YOU SAID THAT LOBBYING WAS PROTECTED BY THE CONSTITUTION. I ASSUME THAT YOU MEAN THE FIRST AMENDMENT, GIVING PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND...
|
| 00:23:49 |
GUEST, -
IS THE RIGHT TO PETITION FOR FUTURE LAWS FOR CORPORATE ADVANTAGE LOCATED"? GUEST: IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHERE THE FINE
|
| 00:23:58 |
HOST, -
HOW MUCH MONEY IS SPENT BY ORGANIZATIONS, THERE IS A TERRIFIC ORGANIZATION CALLED THE VOTE -- CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS. YOU CAN FIND OUT HOW MUCH...
|
| 00:24:15 |
GUEST, -
I SAID, EVERYBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO PETITION GOVERNMENT. COMPANIES ARE RUN BY AMERICAN CITIZENS. THEY ARE EMPLOYED BY AMERICAN CITIZENS. THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY...
|
| 00:24:51 |
HOST, -
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC RULES ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO
|
| 00:25:00 |
GUEST, -
BECOME -- LET ME BACK UP.
|
| 00:25:03 |
HOST, -
IF YOU SPEND MORE THAN 20% OF YOUR TIME LOBBYING FOR A
|
| 00:25:09 |
GUEST, -
PARTICULAR CLIENT, YOU ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO REGISTER. CALLING, MAKING A PHONE CALL, TALKING TO A MEMBER OF CONGRESS ARE STAFF ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK...
|
| 00:26:09 |
HOST, -
ASSOCIATION, JUST UNDER $3 MILLION. THE NATIONAL BEER WHOLESALER ASSOCIATION, $2.9 MILLION. EASTLAKE, OHIO. GOOD MORNING. CALLER: I THINK THAT WHAT WE...
|
| 00:27:21 |
HOST, -
THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT SUPPOSEDLY ARE REPRESENTING US SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO INTO LOBBYING FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS. GUEST: IT WILL BE VERY...
|
| 00:27:52 |
GUEST, -
IT WAS SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT WORK IN THE AREA THAT THEY LOBBIED ON FOR TWO YEARS. WHEN THEY LEAVE THIS ADMINISTRATION, THEY ARE BARRED FROM LOBBYING...
|
| 00:29:11 |
HOST, -
DO FEEL THAT THIS IS LEGALIZED BRIBERY. -- AND BECAUSE LAWMAKERS ALLIES SO MUCH IN DONATIONS TO HELP THEM WIN REELECTION AS, THAT MORE AND MORE THEIR...
|
| 00:29:31 |
GUEST, -
FEELING THAT THIS IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE LIKE CROSSING A LINE. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE VIGILANT, SO THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE CAN SEE. IT IS INTERESTING,...
|
| 00:30:33 |
GUEST, -
NORM EISIN, IT WAS INTERESTING TO UNDERSTAND MORE CLEARLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS THINKING IN TERMS OF HOW HE SEES WHAT ARE SPECIAL INTERESTS AS OPPOSED...
|
NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.