The Lobbyists
How Influence Peddlers Work Their Way in Washington
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Jeffrey H. Birnbaum's The Lobbyists exposes the world of Washington's most influential players -- the more than eighty thousand who descend upon our national government, informing and bartering with Congress and blocking legislation on behalf of the richest business interests in the country. This acclaimed work -- now with a new introduction that analyzes the changes in lobbying in 1990s -- provides a shocking view of how our government really works.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this eye-popping, jaw-slackening, generally sickening true-life narrative, Wall Street Journal staffer Birnbaum details how America's lawmakers work hand-in-glove with former Congressional or White House personnel who have gone on to represent commercial or other special interests. Their ``causes'' range from big-business coalition efforts in support of the Bush administration's drive for lower capital-gains taxes to promoting tax interests of specific industries such as trucking, railroads and insurance. Lobby-paid luxury vacations, speaking fees and above all the accepted wisdom that no office-holder can be re-elected without the financial support of special interest friends guarantees the lobbyists access and influence, according to the author, who passes on one ``rumor'' that a former senator was paid $500,000 to make a single phone call to a committee chairman. Naming names and full of anecdotes, this is arguably the most realistic, readable--and depressing--account of democracy at work in a long time. Major ad/promo; author tour.
