Subtle Lobbyist

Letter to the Editor:

Journalist, Phil Brinkman, used the words “subtle game” and “sophisticated” to described the Wisconsin lobbying process in his special Sunday feature: (see: “Political donations aren’t keys to the kingdom”).

What is so subtle or sophisticated about the lobbyist, who Brinkman describes, as the key middle person and link between the donating company and the top administrative official or legislator receiving it? Especially, when we read that in many instances the lobbyist is a former administrative official, legislator, campaign staffer, or company employee.

Is it subtle or sophisticated when we learn that there is no law in Wisconsin requiring lobbyists to report political consulting work on behalf of companies that do business with the state?

What is subtle or sophisticated about a campaign fund raising event that largely includes only trade associations, lobbyists, and potential key $1,000 dollar donors? Were there any ordinary taxpaying citizens there?

What is subtle or sophisticated about the same corporation, receiving 47 state contracts, and the same company officials, within only a few days after attending a gubernatorial campaign fund raising event, contributing several thousands of dollars? Especially, when these same contributing company officials resided in three non-Wisconsin states? When just weeks before, these same 47 contracts are consolidated under a no-bid arrangement into one larger single state contract.

What is subtle or sophisticated about when such “paying to play” companies are confronted and called on for comments regarding their “donations” they simply report that they are “not available.”

Rather than subtle and sophisticated, this writer and tax payer, can and will clearly call, this process what it really is. Mr. Brinkman has brilliantly described a lobbying process that is flagrantly and totally dishonest and corrupt to the core. If this article doesn’t result in state laws to put caps on political campaigns or the passing of a comprehensive public finance campaign law like in Arizona, I don’t know what will!