The Truth About Lobbying In Politics

Lobbying is the attempt to influence public officials' decisions on legislation, while lobbyists represent special interest groups to Congress. While lobbying is protected by the First Amendment, the problem arises when money is used to buy influence. Lobbyists raise millions for campaigns, with a significant return on investment. The revolving door phenomenon sees former members of Congress becoming lobbyists, offering high-paying jobs. Banning lobbyists is not feasible or desirable, but local and state initiatives like the American Anti-Corruption Act can bring about reforms to limit corruption and conflicts of interest.