The Lobbyists: How Influence Peddlers Get Their Way in Washington - Hardcover

Jeffrey H. Birnbaum

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0812920864 ISBN 13: 9780812920864

Publisher: Crown, 1992

Synopsis

A behind-the-scenes look at Washington's most powerful players follows a handful of top lobbyists during the 101st Congress, exposing their obscene wheeling, dealing, wining, and dining. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

In this eye-popping, jaw-slackening, generally sickening true-life narrative, Wall Street Journal staffer Birnbaum details how America's lawmakers work hand-in-glove with former Congressional or White House personnel who have gone on to represent commercial or other special interests. Their "causes" range from big-business coalition efforts in support of the Bush administration's drive for lower capital-gains taxes to promoting tax interests of specific industries such as trucking, railroads and insurance. Lobby-paid luxury vacations, speaking fees and above all the accepted wisdom that no office-holder can be re-elected without the financial support of special interest friends guarantees the lobbyists access and influence, according to the author, who passes on one "rumor" that a former senator was paid $500,000 to make a single phone call to a committee chairman. Naming names and full of anecdotes, this is arguably the most realistic, readable--and depressing--account of democracy at work in a long time. Major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Crown
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0812920864
• ISBN 13: 9780812920864
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 334