Lobbying and The Maximum Contribution

Don McNay
Register Columnist

March 28, 2008 10:27 pm

— “Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted”
— Bruce Springsteen

Lobbying is not fashionable these days. I recently called a lobbyist friend and asked him if media-bashing about his business was bothering him. He said, “No matter how much they complain, the lawmakers need us around.”
He is probably right. Lobbyists are those who know their way around government.
Rick Robinson knows the political game. For the past 30 years, he’s been a big-time player in both Washington and Kentucky. Rick was legislative director for Congressman Jim Bunning and ran for Congress when Bunning moved up to the Senate.
Now he is a novelist. “The Maximum Contribution” (Headline Books) is loosely based on Rick’s experience as a candidate and inside player.
Rick and I go a long ways back. We became friends in student government at Eastern Kentucky University and shared an office when he was the student member of the board of regents.
He had pictures of Reagan on his desk. I had pictures of Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy. We became close anyway.
His run for Congress was a rare time when I campaigned for a Republican. In fact, it may be the only time.
I asked him to add a note for my book about Ernie Fletcher. He said, “I’m glad that SOB wasn’t writing when I ran for office.”
I printed it. It’s on the back cover of the book.
He asked me to give a quote for his book. A no win for me. I didn’t want to give the same style of quote that he did for my book and I don’t really like to read novels. I’m a non fiction kind of guy. Reality is my world.
I liked this novel. A lot.
Once I started, I literally did not put down “The Maximum Contribution.” I stayed up half the night to finish it.
It is a political thriller and an insider’s guide to how Washington works. I don’t want to give away the plot, but Rudy Maxa, a former investigative reporter for the Washington Post, said, “Rick Robinson has vividly captured the essence of the deals that make or more than likely ... break so many D.C. politicians.”
I’ve suspect that Rick’s gritty but realistic insight is how the game is played.
Lobbyist bashing has become a popular sport. I’m not sure who to blame. I don’t know if I blame the lobbyists for trying to influence legislation or the elected officials for allowing themselves to be influenced.
Your view on lobbying probably depends on what the lobbyist is asking for.
I don’t like the payday loan industry and think their lobbyists are probably slime. I make most of my income from setting up structured settlement annuities for injured people. I view their lobbyists as outstanding legislative representatives who are doing God’s work.
It’s all a matter of where you sit. And where you draw your income.
Some lobbying groups are completely out of control. The groups that represent credit card companies have completely had their way in Washington. They passed “bankruptcy reform” which was a classic case of reverse Robin Hood. It took from the poor to give to the rich.
The Maximum Contribution’s subplot revolves around an obscure tax break for allowing businesses to set up offshore operations. I’m not sure why big corporations should be rewarded for taking jobs and resources out of the United States, but I am sure some high-powered lobbyist can tell me why.
Outside of the fact that were are both of Irish descent, like rock ‘n’ roll and funny, conservative commentator P.J. O’Rourke and I have little in common. We do have one bond. We both liked “The Maximum Contribution.”
Read the book. It gives insight into political lies that can leave us lost and brokenhearted.

Don McNay is the author of “Son of a Son of a Gambler: Winners, Losers and What to Do When You Win the Lottery.” You can write to him at don@donmcnay.com or read other things he has written at www.donmcnay.com.