Oklahoma taxpayer-funded lobbying

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Taxpayer-funded lobbying is the practice of engaging in lobbying activities as a public entity. This is done by counties, cities, school districts, public facilities, and many other entities that receive taxpayer money through public funds.

This is controversial because the agenda being lobbied for are not decided by taxpayers, whose money is used for the practice. This means the outcomes of lobbying are sometimes opposed to the constituents' benefit.

[edit] State level

The state has at least one lobbyist permanently on its payroll. [1]

[edit] Success of lobbying

Lobbyists are successful because of their ability to apply political pressure. They allegedly spread rumors about legislators that do not support their issues to hurt them politically. [1]

In addition to this, the legislature does not have the resources to look into all of the proposed issues that public entities advocate for. Legislators also tend to hear more from proponents of new or more spending, than opponents to it.[1] Therefore, it becomes easier to support spending and more government than to oppose it.

Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations have found advocacy success from collaborating together.[1] One such example is the Alliance for Oklahoma's Future. [1]

[edit] Suggested reforms

Some have recommended more transparency as a step that would help curb frivolous spending.[1] Currently, many nonprofits are exempt from disclosure requirements regarding their relationships with lobbyists.[1] Full disclosure should be required with documents openly available on the internet. [1]

Also, the legislature should give itself tools to scrutinize the operations and spending requests of government agencies and private organizations. [1]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

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

[edit] County

[edit] School

[edit] Other

[edit] References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "Taking Your Money, Lobbying for More", October 01, 2006
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Oklahoma taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
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Lists of taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
By type

National organizations
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