Synthaholic
Diamond Member
- Jul 21, 2010
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At least 28 of Max Baucuss former aides are now tax lobbyists
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. That means hes the guy in the Senate charged with writing any overhaul of the nations tax laws. And that means that anyone who has ever worked for him is in high demand in Washingtons lobbying shops:
Restaurant chains like McDonalds want to keep their lucrative tax credit for hiring veterans. Altria, the tobacco giant, wants to cut the corporate tax rate. And Sapphire Energy, a small alternative energy company, is determined to protect a tax incentive it believes could turn algae into a popular motor fuel.
To make their case as Congress prepares to debate a rewrite of the nations tax code, this diverse set of businesses has at least one strategy in common: they have retained firms that employ lobbyists who are former aides to Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which will have a crucial role in shaping any legislation.
No other lawmaker on Capitol Hill has such a sizable constellation of former aides working as tax lobbyists, representing blue-chip clients that include telecommunications businesses, oil companies, retailers and financial firms, according to an analysis by LegiStorm, an online database that tracks Congressional staff members and lobbying. At least 28 aides who have worked for Mr. Baucus, Democrat of Montana, since he became the committee chairman in 2001 have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration more than any other current member of Congress, according to the analysis of lobbying filings performed for The New York Times.
Thats from Eric Lipton in the New York Times. His story echoes a report from Washington Post reporter Jerry Markon, who last month documented the growing army of corporate and other lobbyists seeking to influence any tax overhaul.
Sean Neary, spokesman for Baucus, does an able job defending his boss, offering examples of times when ex-Baucus aides lobbied for tax changes that Baucus ultimately rejected. And Neary is right: Baucus doubtlessly ignores endless entreaties from former staffers and current contributors.
But the point of hiring Baucuss former aides isnt that they can seamlessly insert any language they want into the final legislation. Its that they have a direct line to Baucus, and to the people around Baucus, and that gives them a huge advantage. The fact is that human beings are more likely to find arguments convincing when theyre coming from friends rather than strangers or enemies.
Thats the key to most of the lobbying in Washington. Its not about leveraging bribes so much as its about leveraging relationships and that makes it harder to stamp out. I wrote about this in the New York Review of Books awhile back:
*snip*
Which is why its so damn difficult to actually kill off lobbying. Outlawing bribes is easy. Outlawing relationships isnt.
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. That means hes the guy in the Senate charged with writing any overhaul of the nations tax laws. And that means that anyone who has ever worked for him is in high demand in Washingtons lobbying shops:
Restaurant chains like McDonalds want to keep their lucrative tax credit for hiring veterans. Altria, the tobacco giant, wants to cut the corporate tax rate. And Sapphire Energy, a small alternative energy company, is determined to protect a tax incentive it believes could turn algae into a popular motor fuel.
To make their case as Congress prepares to debate a rewrite of the nations tax code, this diverse set of businesses has at least one strategy in common: they have retained firms that employ lobbyists who are former aides to Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which will have a crucial role in shaping any legislation.
No other lawmaker on Capitol Hill has such a sizable constellation of former aides working as tax lobbyists, representing blue-chip clients that include telecommunications businesses, oil companies, retailers and financial firms, according to an analysis by LegiStorm, an online database that tracks Congressional staff members and lobbying. At least 28 aides who have worked for Mr. Baucus, Democrat of Montana, since he became the committee chairman in 2001 have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration more than any other current member of Congress, according to the analysis of lobbying filings performed for The New York Times.
Thats from Eric Lipton in the New York Times. His story echoes a report from Washington Post reporter Jerry Markon, who last month documented the growing army of corporate and other lobbyists seeking to influence any tax overhaul.
Sean Neary, spokesman for Baucus, does an able job defending his boss, offering examples of times when ex-Baucus aides lobbied for tax changes that Baucus ultimately rejected. And Neary is right: Baucus doubtlessly ignores endless entreaties from former staffers and current contributors.
But the point of hiring Baucuss former aides isnt that they can seamlessly insert any language they want into the final legislation. Its that they have a direct line to Baucus, and to the people around Baucus, and that gives them a huge advantage. The fact is that human beings are more likely to find arguments convincing when theyre coming from friends rather than strangers or enemies.
Thats the key to most of the lobbying in Washington. Its not about leveraging bribes so much as its about leveraging relationships and that makes it harder to stamp out. I wrote about this in the New York Review of Books awhile back:
If someone walks up to you with a bag full of money and asks you to vote to make coal companies more profitable, thats not a very persuasive argument. Even if you take the money, youre going to feel dirty the next day. And most people dont like to feel dirty. But if one of your smartest, most persuasive friends, a friend you agree with on almost everything, is explaining to you that those environmentalist nuts are going too far againtheyre always doing that, arent they?and they have sneakily tucked a provision into a bill that would make it more expensive for your constituents to buy electricity, thats very persuasive. And if its also in your self-interest to listen to himand lobbyists are good at nothing if not making sure it is in a politicians long-term self-interest to listen to themthen all your incentives are pointing in the same direction. Youll listen.
*snip*
Which is why its so damn difficult to actually kill off lobbying. Outlawing bribes is easy. Outlawing relationships isnt.
