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The New Federal Lobbying Regulations

By Thor Hearne and Amy Blunt
December 21, 2007

Businesses of all sizes must participate in the political process. Failure to do so places a company's survival at risk. As President Ronald Reagan once said, 'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.' Organizations should have a voice in whether and how they are taxed or regulated or whether you or your competitors are subsidized.

Federal and state legislation (even local government regulation) can dramatically affect the profitability of any business. And public officials need input from their constituents in the business community to understand how proposed laws will affect the businesses (and their employees) that are subject to the laws written by politicians. However, participating in the political process is not without hazard. Seeking to exert influence in the political process improperly will not only frustrate the objective, but could also result in the involvement of another federal agency ' the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Recall Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana ' caught by the FBI with $90,000 in 'cold hard cash' in his freezer, and lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is now wearing, instead of his trademark fedora, an orange jumpsuit.

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