Interest Groups in Public Policy

1
Interest Groups in Public Policy

• The Influence Game

2
Pluralism

• Political Arena is a marketplace of competing
  ideas
• Interests within the public organize themselves
  into groups
• Politics competition among organized interests
• Not the public at large

3
Pluralism (Lasissez-faire)

• Interests within the public organize themselves
  into groups
• Interest groups are temporary
• Only exist to service a need
• Membership is open and fluid
• Interest groups compete for resources, claims on
  government
• Competition is open, fair, and dynamic
• Government acts as an honest mediator

4
Pluralism (Lasissez-faire)

• Role of Government (1)
• Interest Group Intermediary
• Government as referee
• Public Interest
• reconciliation of competing claims
• Good Public Policy
• Most acceptable/least objectionable policies to
  majority of interests
• Government legitimizing of claims by certain
  interest groups shapes public understanding
• Government defines the public interest by action

5
Pluralism (Lasissez-faire)

• Role of Government (2)
• Net Benefit Maximizer
• Government uses procedural expertise to maximize
  net benefits among all claimants
• Public interest
• Most efficient use of public resources
• Good Public Policy
• Most efficient policies
• Government valuation and action shapes public
  understanding of tradeoffs, relative worth, etc.

6
Pluralism (Corporate)

• Interests within the public organize themselves
  into groups
• Interest groups are permanent
• Membership is specialized and stable
• Certain interest groups acquire controlling power
  in specific policy areas
• defects in political marketplace
• Collusion among interest groups to establish
  turf
• Parts of government (bureaucracy) are captured by
  special interests
• Financial, human, and technical resources
  influence

7
Pluralism (Corporate)

• Technical expertise of interest groups creates
  natural alliance with government agencies
• BLM ? Cattle Grazing Association
• FAA ? airline industry

8
Pluralism (Corporate)

• Role of Government
• Agent of Special Interests
• Public Interest
• Defined by special interests within policy area
• Good Public Policy
• Whatever serves special interests
• What is good for business is good for America

9
Corporate Interest Groups

• Industry Trade Groups
• National Mining Association
• American Farm Bureau
• National Homebuilders Association
• Blue Ribbon Coalition
• Hierarchical structure with small powerful
  leadership group
• Little Public Accountability
• closed decision making
• legal protections/limited liability
• corporate secrecy
• Goal Advance Industry interests
• Narrow industry focus
• Span Jurisdictions State, National,
  International Corporate Actors

10
Public Interest Groups

• Public Membership
• Open Decision-making
• Broad missions
• USPIRG
• Consumers Union
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Specialized PIGs
• National Wildlife Federation
• Urban Coalition

11
Modes of Influence

• Lobbying
• Campaign Contributions
• Information (Reports, studies, etc.)
• Personnel
• Public Relations

12
What Lobbyists Do

• Meetings with lawmakers, legislative staff,
  agency officials and staff
• Develop a relationship with staff
• Providing analysis and information to committees,
  legislative offices, and executive agencies
• Testifying in committee
• Providing research and information to bureaucracy
  
• Negotiating with policy makers and other lobby
  groups

13
Outside Lobbying Activity

• Media activity including news conferences,
  editorial board visits, and assisting reporters
  with stories
• Local lobbying visits by constituents to their
  legislators
• Building broad and diverse coalitions
• Letter writing campaigns to legislators
• Grassroots activity such as rallies, etc.

14
Lobbying Expenditures Vs. Campaign Contributions
15
Political Action Committees (PAC)

• Organized interest group for the purpose of
  funding political campaigns
• Single-issue groups
• Opposite of political parties
• Finance candidates and parties
• Money comes from individual members, not PAC
  treasury
• Sponsor Create Info-campaigns
• Negative campaigns

16
PAC Growth Numbers
17
PAC Growth in Contributions
18
of PAC Contributions Going to Incumbents 1998
19
PAC Contributions Party Preference by Industry
millions
20
Top PACs
http//www.opensecrets.org/pacs/topacs.asp

• Who gives to whom?
• Controls of PAC financial influence

For ease of identification, the names used in
this section are those of the organization
connected with the PAC, rather than the official
PAC name. For example, the "Coca-Cola Company
Nonpartisan Committee for Good Government" is
simply listed as "Coca-Cola Co."