How do you lobby?
Bill Novelli is CEO of AARP, a membership organization of 40 million people age fifty and older, half of whom remain actively employed. AARP’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for all as we age.
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| 1. What skills does Novelli emphasize in his discussion of successful lobbying? Can you think of any other skills advantageous to a lobbyist, or any that may be potentially detrimental? |
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| 2. Novelli mentions the importance of bringing people together to discuss special interest proposals. What challenges to assembling relevant government officials does he identify? Do you agree with his assessment? |
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How do lobbies affect the way we eat?
Marion Nestle is a consumer activist, nutritionist, and academic who specializes in the politics of food and dietary choice.
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| 3. Briefly recount one of Nestle’s reports of a particular food lobby interacting with a government agency. What does this story suggest about the role of food interests in protecting citizens’ dietary health? Is food policy an area that should be open to lobbyists? Why or why not? |
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What distinguishes the Israel lobby from other special interest groups? How do we rein in special interest groups?
Stephen Walt is the Robert and Rene Belfer Professor of International Affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
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| 4. What characteristic, according to Walt, distinguishes the Israeli lobby from other interest groups? What are the potential political advantages to this characteristic? What are the potential disadvantages? |
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| 5. How does Walt think politicians might lessen the influence of special interest groups? What considerations would accompany such a reform? |
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What do you do as president of PhRMA? Why did you leave Congress to lobby? What are PhRMA’s priorities? Are PhRMA’s lobbying efforts effective?
Billy Tauzin is a politician, lawyer, and lobbyist. Of Cajun descent, he was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 to 1979 and the United States House of Representatives from 1980 to 2005, representing Louisiana’s Third Congressional District.
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| 6. How do lobbyists integrate themselves into the policymaking process? How much control over political processes do lobbyists have? |
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| 7. What are the potential benefits and problems with former government officials representing industry or other specialized interests? |
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