Professional Lawyer Lobbyists

American Injustice

The Fourth Branch of Government

Few Americans fully comprehend the extent of power and influence that professional lawyer lobbyists, representing Bar Associations and special interest, exert over state government in America. Many observers have felt for years that another branch of government actually exists, one which owes no allegiance to the vast majority of American citizens, and one which is largely unregulated.

This condition is not confined to one state. "Over the years, the existence of lawyer lobbyists in the Nation's Capitol and in most states has become a political way of life. An excellent editorial recently appeared in the Austin American-Statesman which recognized the nature of the problem in Texas.

The editorial stated in part; "The lobbyist has been around since the time of Julius Caesar, one successful legislator- -turned lobbyist remarked defensively. "But never has the people's business lain so pitifully vulnerable to manipulation by those paid to pull the strings of lawmakers. "The public pays triple in the escalating lobby wars: once for the cost of political campaigns and legislative operations, again to cover special-interest tax breaks and regulatory favors won by lobbyists and yet again when public agencies hire expensive lawyer lobbyist 'stars' in self defense- as they are doing with increasing frequency.

More than 1600 lobbyists- including a few dozen expensive superstars- descend on the 181 members of Alabama's legislature to grease the wheels of lawmaking. The lobby has become a kind of privatized legislative branch and the people are the losers. In addition to the financial costs of lobby operations, which exceed the costs of operating the legislature, there are costs to democracy. The lobby may date back to the time of Caesar, but it shouldn't have imperial powers.

Recent events in the various state legislatures are strong evidence that a strong Fourth Branch of Government in America never has to face the voters. This has a great deal to do with the manner in which American citizens have been treated over the years.

The failure of legislatures to pass consumer protection laws, the passage of oppressive tort reform, the passage of huge judicial pay raises, lying lawyer's immunity laws, court rules more oppressive than King George's edicts and the failure to address campaign finance reform are prime examples of the vast powers of the professional lawyer lobbyists in America.

What can be done to lessen the power of the lobbyists? Unfortunately, nothing of significance will happen until American citizens feel the need to become unified and then to let the politicians know change is needed.

One can only speculate as to what would happen if groups such as the AARP, the Retired Teachers Association, the AEA, the ASEA, the ADC, the New South Coalition, the Labor groups, and MADD decide "enough is enough" and with a unified front demand that Governors, the Legislatures, and our Supreme Court Justices start worrying about how citizens feel for a change.

Help Save American - Vote Lawyers Out of the Legislature

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