"Super Committee" will produce "Super Lobbyists"

[jtown1123]

From the National Journal:

Debt-Ceiling Deal Sets Off Lobbying Frenzy
By Chris Frates
August 1, 2011 | 9:30 p.m.

The so-called super committee that would be responsible for cutting $1.5 trillion from the federal deficit is poised to create a new class on K Street: The Superlobbyists.

Within 14 days of the debt-ceiling compromise becoming law, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi must each appoint three members to a bipartisan panel of 12 lawmakers tasked with goring sacred cows.

The scale of cuts is immense.

“That’s an enormous number. I’ve never seen anything like that in my lifetime, so I can’t compare it to anything,” said Republican financial-services lobbyist Sam Geduldig. “My guess is, there will be losers and those who are held harmless. Winning is being held harmless, and I think there may be a lot of people who will pay to try to be held harmless.”
When the Divine Dozen are named, it will lead “to the emergence of a pack of superlobbyists who will have access to those members” and who can try to protect clients from the carnage, said Democratic consultant David Di Martino. That’s because with only six members from each party on the committee, influencing the super committee will largely be an inside game with Democratic and Republican lobbyists working their respective lawmakers.

Each appointment will be closely watched for the signals it sends about the direction of the super committee, more formally known as the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.

---------------

Get ready for the carnage folks...it's going to be a bloodbath.

[Shagbark Hickory]

1. Lobbying should be illegal. And the politicians that take their bribes belong in gitmo.

[jtown1123]

3. In all fairness, there are lobbyists for good causes too, but they don't have the access

the big money corporations and defense firms do...this is why having a "super committee" is so problematic.

[Occulus]

9. "but they don't have the access"

Which is why we should level the field and make lobbying illegal. I have no problem with individuals lobbying their elected representatives and senators, but no corporation or business interest should have any standing at all to participate in the political process, period.

Why?

Businesses and corporations and non-profits are not citizens. They aren't even humans. Hell- they aren't even alive. They should have no participation.

[loyalsister]

43. How hard have you tried to get access?

People are too intimidated. It is possible for anyone to build relationship with government officials. Especially congress.
There are some rules of thumb to make it work, though. You have to be professional and polite and if you want to be effectual you have to be able to support a position with objective evidence.
They have offices within their congressional districts. Go in peace, and make friends with the gatekeepers. Find someone who goes to the same church, belongs to the same country club, lives in the same neighborhood to mention as a friend. Find out what they like to do. Having something in common with them other than the district you live in is very valuable.
If you work with an organization, invite them to come to events. Give them recognition for what they do right.
It's about building relationships, and it starts with getting assistants on your side, and sharing people and things you have in common. Make it so that a conversation with you is enjoyable and you will have access. That means that you have to agree to disagree sometimes. Disagreeing with respect avoids conflict keeps the communication lines open.

[loyalsister]

40. Actually there aren't enough lobbyists

Every time you write a letter to government leaders you are lobbying. If you are talking about paid lobbyists, I think there should be more restrictions. But, lobbying is not such a dirty word.
There are a lot of unpaid lobbyists for non profits that advocate for various issues. The government needs to hear more from voters en masse. Polls are weak representations. Personal input is what is needed. People actually need to get together and get some people to go to DC and lobby for "average Joe." We don't have money the way corporations do, but we have votes.

[RC]

42. It is not the lobbying per se, it is the "MONEY!" they bring with them

Lots and lots of MONEY! There is no difference between a campaign contribution under these conditions and a out and out bribe.
Why? Because the money dries up if the bought off congress cretin does not perform adequately.

[loyalsister]

47. I agree

We need to counter it with Voters. That means working from the ground up. Getting involved in our communities and building a force of voters with representation goes a long way. There are organizations that provide cohesive representation and they gain access.
One of the very best is the League of Women Voters. They are non partisan, issue based, AND credible. There is a national organization in place. The institutional history is based on encouraging voting and participation. And, for those who don't know, men are welcome. :)

http://www.lwv.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

There are a lot of voters represented in one letter opposing the BBA

http://www.lwv.org/Content/ContentGroups/Advocacy/AdvocacyLetters/2011/FundingBudgets/BalancedBudgetJuly132011.pdf

9to5, National Association of Working Women
AFL-CIO
African American Health Alliance
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS Project Los Angeles
AIDS United
Alliance for a Just Society
Alliance for Excellent Education
Alliance for Retired Americans
Alliance to End Hunger
American Association of Classified School Employees (AACSE)
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
American Association of Community Colleges
American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Counseling Association
American Dance Therapy Association
American Educational Research Association
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO
American Federation of School Administrators, AFL-CIO
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
American Humane Association
American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA)
American Network of Community Options and Resources
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
American Public Health Association
American School Counselor Association
Americans for Democratic Action
The Arc of the United States
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Association for Career and Technical Education
Association of Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAP)
Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA)
Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
Autism National Committee
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Bread for the World
Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO
B'nai B'rith International
CAEAR Coalition
Campaign for America’s Future
Campaign for College Affordability
Campaign for Community Change
CANN - Community Access National Network
The Cave Institute
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
Center for Medicare Advocacy
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
Children’s Defense Fund
Children's Dental Health Project
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Citizens for Tax Justice
Clinical Social Work Association
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Coalition on Human Needs
Committee for Education Funding
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Community Action Partnership
Community Food Security Coalition
Community Organizations in Action
Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED)
Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Opportunity in Education
Council of the Great City Schools
Dab the AIDS Bear Project
Defenders of Wildlife
Democracy 21
Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
Direct Care Alliance
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
Easter Seals
Every Child Matters Education Fund
Families USA
Federally Employed Women (FEW)
Feminist Majority
First Focus Campaign for Children
Food & Water Watch
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friends of the Earth
Gay Men’s Health Crisis
Generations United
Gray Panthers
Growth & Justice
Half in Ten
Health & Disability Advocates
Health Care for America Now
Health GAP (Global Access Project)
HIV Law Project
Horizons for Homeless Children
Housing Works
Interfaith Worker Justice
International Association of Fire Fighters
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, AFLCIO
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
International Reading Association
International Society for Technology in Education
International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America
(UAW)
Knowledge Alliance
Laborers’ International Union of North America, (LiUNA!)
Latino Commission on AIDS
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
League of Conservation Voters
League of Women Voters of the U.S.
Learning Disabilities Association of America
Main Street Alliance
Medicare Rights Center
Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Washington Office
Mental Health America
NAACP
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE)
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
National AIDS Housing Coalition
National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity
National Alliance of HUD Tenants
The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care
National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health
National Association for College Admission Counseling
National Association for Music Education
National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP)
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a)
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD)
National Association of Federally Impacted Schools
National Association of Government Employees/SEIU
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO)
National Association of Letter Carriers
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services Programs (NANASP)
National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA)
National Association of Postal Supervisors
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
National Black Child Development Institute
National Center for Law and Economic Justice
National Coalition for LGBT Health
National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery
National Coalition of STD Directors
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
National Congress of American Indians
National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP)
National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of La Raza (NCLR)
National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO)
National Council on Independent Living
National Disability Rights Network
National Education Association (NEA)
National Employment Law Project (NELP)
National Family Caregivers Association
National Family Farm Coalition
National Federation of Federal Employees
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
National Health Law Program
National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA)
National Housing Trust
National Immigration Law Center
National Indian Head Start Directors Association
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
National Low Income Housing Coalition
National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU)
National Priorities Project
National Respite Coalition
National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition (NREAC)
National Rural Education Association (NREA)
National School Boards Association
National Senior Citizens Law Center
National Senior Corps Association (NSCA)
National Title I Association
National Treasury Employee Union
National Urban League
National WIC Association
National Women's Conference Committee
National Women’s Law Center
National Women's Health Network
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Not Dead Yet
OMB Watch
Our Bodies Ourselves
OWL-The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
People For the American Way (PFAW)
Pension Rights Center
PHI – Quality Care through Quality Jobs
Population Action International
Progressive States Action
Promise the Children
Public Citizen
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition (REHDC)
RESULTS
School Social Work Association of America
Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team
Sojourners
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association
Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice
TASH
Teaching Strategies, Inc.
Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Treatment Access Expansion Project
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH)
Union for Reform Judaism
United Cerebral Palsy
United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries
United Food and Commercial Workers, International
United for a Fair Economy
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
United Mine Workers
United Spinal Association
United Steelworkers (USW)
USAction
U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW)
US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA)
VillageCare
Voices for America’s Children
Voices for Progress
Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW)
The Wilderness Society
The Women of Color Policy Network, NYU Wagner
Women of Reform Judaism
Women Together for Change (WTFC)
Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER)
Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press
World Knowledge Bank
YouthBuild USA
YWCA USA
ZERO TO THREE

[Atman]

2. I just don't see how this is Constitutional.

Many states are left with NO REPRESENTATION. How is this legal?

[jtown1123]

4. I think the legality of this committee is something we should bring up

They are not accountable and certainly not to the whole country...just whoever pressures them the most and donates to their campaigns.

[FSogol]

5. "Super committee" is just a scary name for "Joint Committee."

The full Congress will still have to vote on stuff for it to become a law. They will still be able to veto things. The President still has his veto powers. Nothing Constitutional has been changed. A joint committee is being formed to work on debt reduction. It really isn't scary, illegal, or different than anything prior.

:shrug:

[jtown1123]

7. Yes it is scary. They are going to look at cutting entitlements. No amendments. That is scary.

[FSogol]

12. Sorry, but joint committees have been around forever. They are not scary.

Instead of using fear to manipulate people, (I'm speaking generally and not pointing a finger at you personally) it is far better to encourage people to contact their Reps and Senators. A joint committee can speed things up, but votes will still need to be taken.

[jtown1123]

14. Well I find it extremely troubling as you can count on draconian entitlement cuts.

Voting on this package will have extreme political pressure from very wealthy campaign donors who do not want to see defense spending cut if this joint committee plan fails. What makes you think I'm not going to call my reps?

[FSogol]

15. Write your reps a letter. It has more impact. n/t

[jtown1123]

17. I always write and call. Doesn't change the fact that this committee is not your run of the mill

"join committee..." Fast track? No amendments? What other precedents are you aware of that are similar to this process?

[FSogol]

20. I recommend dusting off your 11th grade Civics textbook.

Happy reading.

[jtown1123]

22. Please tell me what other joint committee has had 7 days to reveal their plan w/ no amendments

during a fast track legislative process. Thanks.

[alcibiades_mystery]

34. Closer to a month

The Joint Committee must vote on their report and any legislative language (should they agree on a bill) by November 23. They must submit that to the President and Congress by December 2, and to the public immediately upon approval or disapproval (Section 401(b)(3)(B) (iv) and (v)).

[jtown1123]

35. Nov. 23 to Dec. 2 is 7 business days, no?

[alcibiades_mystery]

39. The vote is not required until December 23

The Joint Committee is required to vote by November 23.

They are required to send the bill to Congressional leaders and the President by December 2.

The Congress will vote on the bill no later than December 23.

Why, what do you think should happen between the time they vote on the report and legislative language and send the report and bill to Congress? You think they're going to hold a second vote based on pressure? The pressure - as for EVERY BILL - is exerted on the full Congress that has to pass or reject it. For that, you have closer to a month, since the report and legislative language will be public on or about November 23, and no Congressional vote is required until December 23.

[jtown1123]

45. So we have a month to see how much we're getting screwed...no amendments

I'm not confident Dems will vote it down.

[alcibiades_mystery]

46. Why, do you want a year "to see how much we're getting screwed"

:shrug:

[Javaman]

23. perhaps you should enlighten and not insult.

it would serve everyone better.

[jtown1123]

26. Thanks. I am legitimately curious what other committee has had this power

to make deficit reductions that affect programs of which it has no normal legislative jurisdiction over. I don't like fast tracking, I don't like "no amendments" and I really don't like the lack of accountability of this committee.

[FSogol]

29. Disagreeing does not equal an insult. There is a huge misunderstanding of joint committees

which leads to people getting outraged. While there are many items to get outraged in this whole deal, the formation of a joint committee is not one of them.

[jtown1123]

36. Again, please tell me what other join committee has been formed simply to reduce the deficit

to propose fast tracked legislation with no amendments?

[Occulus]

13. That's RIGHT- just like star chambers are still courts bound by law!

:eyes:

[bvar22]

44. "The President still has his veto "

Oh Well,
I was worried there for a minute.
/bitter sarcasm



The DLC New Team

(Screen Capped from the DLC Website)
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=254886&kaid=86&subid=85

[xchrom]

6. Recommend

[ProfessionalLeftist]

8. Link? n/t

[jtown1123]

11. Sorry, it is subscription only. I will double check just in case.

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Super fascism! Yay!

[Javaman]

16. huh, so we got a forth branch of government without telling us...

that's what this deal was all about.

he who controls the money, controls all.

welcome to the gilded age of fascism.

[jtown1123]

18. Oh nothing to worry about, this is no different than other "joint committees"//sarcasm

[FSogol]

19. Hogwash. n/t

[Javaman]

21. LOL nice reply

I love your in-depth analysis.

[FSogol]

24. See post #5. The sky isn't ALWAYS falling. n/t

[jtown1123]

27. We're not saying it's falling, we're saying we're troubled by this cmte, which you say is standard

yet I have yet to hear what precedent there is for this.

[Javaman]

28. So you are okay then with a committee

that has control of the yay and ney of 2.4 trillion dollars? Which, I might add, if not cut next time around there is a debt ceiling to be raised, it will prevent the ceiling from being raised.

That is way to much power to invest in a small group of people regardless if whatever they recommend still has to be voted on.

to me this reeks of a failure to properly represent the people.

they will be making decisions on our future without our input. Oh but wait, I can still write to them, right? which means a political flunky will screen my letter and more than likely trash it, because, god forbid, I express even the least amount of outrage over how they didn't increase revenue and cut programs effecting the poor and middle class.

[jtown1123]

37. Thank you. This pretty much sums up my feelings too.

There is a lot at stake here. We are trusting a very small group of people, some of which are clearly not qualified to understand the implications of these cuts because they do not normally serve on committees that review these subjects. Do I really want an agriculture committee chair making decisions on SS cuts? I sure as hell don't. These programs must be examined by the proper legislative committees in a traditional legislative process.

[Javaman]

41. you know what makes me really heart achingly sad?

that there are those on DU here that are so complete deluded over this deal. They honestly believe, at this stage of the game, that 1) that a deal actually needed to be made 2) they are perfectly fine with a small group of politicians who are heavily influenced by corporations to make these decisions 3) that is is not about the deal but about the details.

if there was one single time in our recent history for this nation to get incredibly pissed off and march and protest, this is it, yet, what happens? nothing.

people roll over because we have all be taught how to think and fail to see just how our rights and opinions matter zero to those in power.

we are dying as a nation and have been for a very long time. We the people are responsible for that. Our government doesn't fear us, it laughs at our wonton stupidity and use it to their best advantage. As a result, this debt "deal" is the the result.

the people of this nation should feel insulted by this whole political charade.

[jpak]

25. And Super Lobbiyists will create Super Giant Robots to stomp old people

:rofl:

[Javaman]

30. naaa, the super committee will do that. nt

[FSogol]

31. ...while Obama and the Blue dogs Super-cackle at the unemployed! clap, clap, clap. Duzy!

:rofl:

[amb123]

32. And Super-Tyranny

"Super Committee" = Fascist Grand Council

:nuke:

[spin]

33. Is this what was called the "Super Congress" a couple of days ago? (n/t)

[jtown1123]

38. same thing, yes.