358 Chapter 10Chapter 10 || Interest GroupsInterest Groupstime they want to lobby their opponents. After all, people who are opposed to a group’s
current priorities one day may agree with the group on some future issue.
Whom do these groups contact for direct lobbying? Analysis of lobbyists’ annual
disclosure forms shows that they contact people throughout the federal government,
including elected officials, members of the president’s staff, and bureaucrats in the
executive branch. They seek this wide range of contacts because different officials play
distinct roles in the policy-making process and thus have various types of influence.
Members of Congress shape legislation and budgets; members of the president’s staff
influence the formation of new policies and obtain presidential consent for new laws;
and executive branch bureaucrats change the ways regulations are written and policies
are implemented.Drafting Legislation and Regulations Interest groups sometimes draft legislative
proposals and regulations, which they deliver to legislators and bureaucrats as part of
their lobbying efforts.^30 Surveys of interest groups found that more than three-quarters
reported drafting proposals for members of Congress.^31 The role of lobbyists in drafting
legislation has become more prominent as Congress has less internal capacity to write
the laws because of cuts in committee staff.^32 In the case of direct student loans, for
example, the antireform forces developed a plan that would cut fees and lower interest
rates for student loans but preserve the existing system.
Interest groups do not give proposals to just anyone: they seek out legislators who
already support their cause and who have significant influence within Congress. A
lobbying effort aimed at cutting interest rates on student loans would target supporters
of this change who are also members of the congressional committee with jurisdiction
over student loan programs—preferably someone who chairs the committee or one
of its subcommittees.^33 Interest groups also lobby bureaucrats to influence the details
of new regulations.^34 If the types of regulations involved can go into effect without
congressional approval, then lobbying the bureaucracy can result in groups’ getting
exactly what they want. But even if new regulations require approval by Congress or
White House staff, interest groups can increase their chances of success by getting
involved in the initial drafting of policy.Research Interest groups often prepare research reports on topics of interest to the
group. For example, Public Citizen featured on its website a series of research reports on
topics such as financial reform, climate and energy, health and safety, and regulatory
p ol ic y.^35 Such reports serve multiple purposes. They may sway public opinion, help
persuade elected officials or bureaucrats, or directly influence the industry that is the
subject of the report. They also help interest group staff claim expertise on some aspect
of public policy. Members of Congress are more likely to accept a group’s legislative
proposal if they think that the group’s staff has research to back up their claims.
Journalists are also more likely to respond to an interest group’s requests for publicity if
they think that the group’s staff has supporting evidence.Hearings Interest group staff often testify before congressional committees. In part,
this activity is aimed at informing members of Congress about issues that matter to
the interest group. For example, the NR A’s website shows that its staff has testified
in favor of “right-to-carry” laws as well as laws that would grant immunity to gun
manufacturers for harm committed with weapons they produced.^36Litigation Another inside strategy involves taking the government to court. In
bringing their case, interest groups can argue that the government’s actions are not
consistent with the Constitution or that the government has misinterpreted existingFull_11_APT_64431_ch10_340-373.indd 358 16/11/18 10:26 AM