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Connecticut taxpayer-funded lobbying

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is government to government lobbying. counties, Cities, school districts, public facilities, and associations of public employees frequently use public funds to influence legislation and appropriations at the state and federal levels.

This practice is controversial because public funds are spent to lobby for an agenda not subject to direct approval by voters, and outcomes may be contrary taxpayers benefit.

[edit] Federal lobbying

Stamford city administration has been forced by the Board of Representatives to re-examine a proposed agreement with The Ferguson Group in 2010, which has been representing Stamford in Washington for several years.[1] Stamford's earliest record of a lobbying contract with The Ferguson Group is a five-and-a-half-month interim agreement for $73,328 in 2006, DiMartino said. Between 2007 and 2010, the city spent $922,232 on federal lobbying services from the firm.[1]

[edit] Lobbying in Connecticut

Stamford is one entity that has both federal lobbying representation and in-state lobbying representation. [2] Stamford city officials awarded a one-year, $45,000 contract to a lobbying firm to represent Stamford's interests in Hartford for 2011.

[edit] Arguments for necessity of lobbyists

With Stamford potentially without a lobbyist for some months in 2011, a city official said lobbying is critical for the city. According to the city, its lobbyist has been instrumental in bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants and funding to Stamford in transportation and environmental protection.[1] City Representative Eileen Heaphy, D-8, believes Stamford needs the federal lobbying services The Ferguson Group provides.[1] "Government today is very sophisticated and very big," she said. "You need to know where to push the right buttons and congressional staffs just aren't big enough to handle everything on their own. Lobbyists are a part of today's political process."[1]

[edit] Arguments against lobbyists

Stamford city Representative Arthur Layton, R-17, voted against an in-state lobbying contract for the city. "I feel we have representatives who have been serving in Hartford for quite a bit of time, good people, people I respect. With the size of Connecticut government being what it is, I don't think we need to hire somebody else."[2]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

The following is a list of Connecticut taxpayer-funded lobbying associations by type:

[edit] City and municipal

[edit] Emergency services

[edit] Justice

[edit] Public employees

[edit] School

[edit] Other

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "City administration debates federal lobbying contract", Connecticut Post, December 13, 2010
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Stamford officials approve state lobbying contract", Stamford Advocate, November 25, 2010


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Connecticut taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges • Connecticut Association Nonprofits • Connecticut Association of Area Agencies on Aging • Connecticut Association of Assessing Officers • Connecticut Association of Assessing Officers • Connecticut Association of Boards of Education • Connecticut Association of Independent Schools • Connecticut Association of School Business Officials • Connecticut Association of School Personnel Administrators • Connecticut Association of School Psychologists • Connecticut Association Public School Superintendents • Connecticut Bar Association • Connecticut Conference of Municipalities • Connecticut Council of Small Towns • Connecticut Federation School Administrators • Connecticut Fire Marshals Association • Connecticut Judges Association • Connecticut Library Association • Connecticut Police Chiefs Association • Connecticut Town Clerks Association
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Lists of taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
By type

National organizations
Cities • Counties • Schools • Police • Universities

By state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming •

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