‘Willing Vassals’ in Congress Do Lobbyist Bidding: Jack Abramoff
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Nov. 18 (Bloomberg) -- As I built what became the nation’slargest individual lobbying practice -- with 40 employees at itspeak -- I remained the only lobbyist in the firm who had notpreviously worked on Capitol Hill. Former Congress members andstaff are everywhere on K Street, the lair of the lobbyingworld. Why? Because they have access.
That access was crucial to our lobbying efforts. If wecouldn’t get in the door, we couldn’t present our client’s caseto decision makers. Hill veterans also had expertise. They knewthe Byzantine legislative process and how to make it work forclients. Access and expertise: That’s how the great lobbyingmachines work.