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Alabama government sector 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.

Issues

In 2008, Jefferson County considered hiring a lobbyist for $100,000 a year to help influence the state legislature on county bankruptcy.[1]

In 2009, Birmingham created the Alabama Green Initiative, a collection of municipalities in the area. The group lobbies on behalf of the municipalities to help them attain environmental grants.[2]

Is lobbying worth the cost?

Jefferson County hired a $120,000 a year lobbyist for 2010, but because it evaluates the value of such contracts during its budget deliberations, this contract will not be extended.[3]

The Birmingham City Council has a lobbying contract for federal lobbying with Handprint Bell Consulting. The contract began July 1, 2010 and is $250,000 for lobbying services in fiscal 2011.[4]

Several members of the city council questioned whether the city, which has financial difficulties, should approve another contract. Skepticism stems from Summer of 2009 after several errors were discovered in the company's report to the council.[4] One of the entries claimed responsibility for securing $10 million in federal money for clean drinking water, but that work was done under a separate contract with the Birmingham Water Works. Some officials also questioned the role the company played in securing $1.42 million to increase the public transit fleet.[4]

Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations

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

City and municipal

County

Emergency services

Justice

Regional groups

School

Other

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Birmingham law firm recommended for Jefferson County lobbying contract", November 27, 2008
  2. ↑ "Birmingham, Alabama Leads the Way for Green Lobbying: Introduces the Alabama Green Initiative", January 23, 2009
  3. ↑ "The Jefferson County Commission's instincts on county spending and a county lobbyist smell right ", November 18, 2010
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "City Council asks if Birmingham gets its money's worth from lobbyist", July 27, 2010
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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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