PSoTD

It looks like lobbying firms are starting to try Google AdWords advertising. Check out the results (sorry, no links, they didn't pay me!) for these searches:

"Government Relations"

advertisers include

Carmen Group Lobbying
Cicero Consulting
Cassidy & Associates
Rome Smith & Associates
The Talon Group, LLC

"Lobbying Firm" includes:

Public Policy Advocates
The Public Advocacy Group
Wheat Gov't Relations
The Talon Group, LLC
Rome Smith & Associates
Jim Arnold & Associates
Burland & Associates
Carmen Group Lobbying
Cassidy & Associates

"Lobbyist Firm" came up with

Cassidy & Associates
Rome Smith & Associates
Advantage Associates Inc.
Burland & Associates

There's a possible trend here. 20 years ago, lobbying firms were trying to get away from that moniker, strongly preferring "government relations firm", for public image purposes. And for purposes of promotion that might work. But it appears that most advertising firms still believe that their marketplace thinks of them as "lobbying firms", which explains why there are more advertisers under that term than under "government relations". In a way, Google AdWords makes business define themselves as their market defines them - because they are dependent on the search terms that market comes up with in order to find their advertisements.

Whenever there's a transition of political power from one party to another, there's a whole new line of hungry mouths in the lobbying community waiting to feed at the public trough. If Americans are going to get control of federal spending - real control, and real discussion of expectations - it is at a time like this, during a transition and before the damage begins in earnest.

This seems to me to be a natural time for bloggers to come to the fore and report on lobbying efforts in an effort to control spending. Since Democrats are likely to control the Congress, and a Republican controls the White House, it also seems like something that conservative and liberal bloggers could agree to do in a reporting format. This isn't about reporting what is actually shows up in legislation, since that's usually too late - the deal has been made. It's about a blogging consideration of lobbyists, in general and in specific, at the federal level. If there were a process where bloggers could volunteer to cover lobbying firms - like what we do when we choose to cover a specific electoral race - perhaps bloggers could do a part in controlling lobbying. When you take a look at the dollars reported in lobbying, you realize that shedding any light on the process can make a difference. It's a staggering amount.

Unfortunately, we're in for a bit of an internal fight once the Democratic Congress rolls in. Lobbyists - and lobbying firms - whose main strengths have been that they have access and ability to lobby Democrats have been waiting for this day for years. They feel they have been getting crumbs, at best, while their Republican lobbyist cousins feasted at the federal trough. There is now a growing sense of "our turn" in the Democratic lobbyist ranks.

The Democrats cannot afford their own version of "the bridge to nowhere." And knowing Bush, if something like that shows up in a budget or spending bill for the Democrats, he'll let it go to give Republicans something to campaign on in 2008. Democrats have to practice fiscal responsibility, and they have to keep the lobbyists disappointed but hopeful. Anything less will be disastrous, political and financially.

Ugh.

One prominent lobbyist who hires Capitol Hill aides said that, in general, Republicans can expect to slash about $50,000 from what they might have commanded before the election returns came in. Yet, another lobbyist who runs his large firm said there are senior-level Democratic aides for whom he would offer as much as $600,000 in total compensation to lure them to his bipartisan shop because of simple supply and demand.

Veteran lobbyists and headhunters said some of the soon-to-be-unemployed aides and Members will find new jobs in the Bush administration, where a flurry of turnover is expected.

Some aides will look to fill other posts on the Hill, while others will catch on with trade associations, lobbying firms and corporate offices — though perhaps for a smaller salary than other Republicans commanded as little as six months ago.

Other Congressional and downtown sources said some staffers are preparing to send their résumés to the likely campaigns of GOP presidential hopefuls such as outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

$600K for a brand new lobbyist? No wonder the cost of government keeps going up.

Will they end up in Harrisburg as lobbyists now that they've lost?

Melissa Hart
Mike Veon
Mike Diven
Eugene McGill
Tom Gannon
and, of course, Dave Brightbill and Bob Jubelirer