• YouTube
  • Find us on the web:

Oklahoma taxpayer-funded lobbying

Contents

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] 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] Emergency services

[edit] Municipal

[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
v • d • e
Oklahoma taxpayer-funded lobbying associations
Certificate 48x48.png
v • d • e
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 •

Retrieved from "http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Oklahoma_taxpayer-funded_lobbying"
blog comments powered by Disqus