Washington Lobbyists

WASHINGTON LOBBYISTS

ON ASSIGNMENT

NEIL SELKIRK

Lobbyists in Washington, D.C. battle for new legislation on all manner of fronts, from health policies to firearms, from the interests of mega-corporations to those of individual consumers. Whether spurred by moral mandates or simply by a paycheck, whether focused on a single goal or hired by numerous groups to advocate for a variety of causes, lobbyists must be ready any day of the week to take up the fight, to inform the public, to bring legislative attention to the urgency of their argument. While a few have been lambasted in the media for their involvement in recent scandals, most remain out of the direct public eye. Through the generous support of Joy of Giving Something, Inc., Neil Selkirk has created a series of extraordinary portraits of this impassioned bunch in our nation’s capitol. Each of his subjects kindly agreed to contribute a short statement about his or her work. Selkirk writes:

As there seems to be a lobbyist for every interest, the world of lobbying is, in a way, a microcosm of the world itself—but intensified: no filler, only interests. The power of the lobbyist lies ultimately in votes elicited, but this singular objective creates a Byzantine lattice of reason and money, a critical mass of either one being able to overwhelm the other. The lobbyist’s work requires phenomenal commitment and energy: the most effective people in these pictures are at work practically every waking moment; their seriousness of purpose is palpable, enviable, and daunting. What they give to what they do is zealotry. Or even madness.

TOM QUINN “As a lobbyist, my job revolves around communication—the most influential thing that anyone can do is communicate and provide information that resonates. The extreme partisanship in Washington concerns me, because it has crippled the ability of politicians to communicate with one another. As this connection breaks down, the parties become less able to generate effective public policy. Recent scandals have put lobbyists in a bad light; still, I firmly believe that lobbying is the most noble of all professions, as it is the only profession that protects the little man. Everyone has a lobbyist in Washington working for him.” PAUL QUINN "Washington, D.C., has long been at the epicenter of important decisions both domestic and international. As a lawyer specializing in public policy and government-relations work, I am pleased to see that, as each year goes by, young men and women continue to come to this city to study and work, hoping to make our country a better and more interesting place."

AARON HOUSTON “As the only full-time marijuana lobbyist on Capitol Hill, I focus chiefly In my work on passing the Hinchey-Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment (which would protect patients from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s raids). While lawmakers and people in positions of power do not always take this issue seriously, I have 80 percent of the country behind me. I do this work because I am concerned about making our country’s policies more sane so that my young children will not inherit the same problems we deal with.”

GINA JOY RIGBY I started out as a registered lobbyist when I was twenty-two, and I have been at it for sixteen years. I am from Columbus, Georgia, which is also the home of Aflac—the number-one provider of guaranteed-renewable supplemental insurance in the United States. The company’s insurance products provide protection to more than forty million people worldwide. Back in Columbus, I worked for Aflac in high school and college, and in 2000 I took the position as head of the company’s Washington, D.C., office. I have a great affection for the Aflac duck, and the company's vision.”

MIKE BARNES “The Brady Campaign is fighting against the tragic toll of gun violence in America. Thirty thousand of our fellow citizens die each year from gunfire, and tens of thousands of others are injured. If this were a disease, our country would mount a massive effort to find a cure. But the common-sense cures for gun violence aren’t being implemented, and the only reason they aren’t is the political power of the gun lobby and gun industry. We will keep fighting until common sense prevails.”

THOMAS HALE BOGGS, JR. “The reality in Washington is that 'who you know’ is only one of the most important factors. Lobbyists must know the Inner workings of Congress and the regulatory agencies. In addition, you must know how to speak the language of government. Government-speak is very important because putting a dry legal case into the sort of language policymakers can understand is key to getting anything done. What many CEOs and their company general counsels don’t realize is that the rules of the game in Washington are about as complicated and arcane as the rules of civil procedure. The rules a Washington lobbyist must know are a lot like the rules in a courtroom.”

PETER LURIE “As the bumper sticker says: ‘If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.’ At Public Citizen, we channel our outrage at government, corporate, and scientific misconduct into hard-hitting research and activism. We fight for openness and democratic accountability in government, healthy workplaces, and safe, effective, and affordable prescription drugs and health care.’’

DAVID CERTNER I am responsible for leading AARP’s advocacy-policy development, including oversight of legislative and regulatory communications at the federal and state levels, and review of our litigation efforts. Whether lobbying on Capitol Hill, or speaking with the press, outside audiences, opinion leaders, or directly with AARP members, I work to improve the lives of Americans as they age. AARP’s challenge, and the challenge for all America, is to ensure that all persons can age with dignity, independence, and economic and health security.”

JUDY NORRELL “I am a lawyer, a lobbyist, and an art collector. As the daughter of two members of the U.S. congress, I grew up experiencing two very different worlds: Washington, D.C., and Monticello, Arkansas. My background has served me well, as I have represented clients as diverse as businesses, labor unions, and professional associations. Respect and enthusiasm for the law have brought me success; my passion for art has brought me joy.”

RALPH NEAS "Mygoal is to build a more powerful and effective progressive movement to promote civic participation, champion civil rights and constitutional liberties, preserve a fair and independent judiciary, strengthen public education, and support public policies that reflect the values of fairness, opportunity, and equality under the law for all people. I am proud that People For the American Way has grown into one of the nation’s most influential social justice advocacy organizations, with nine hundred thousand members and supporters.”

ANGELA WALKER RIEMER “I got my start in government relations in 1997, and in health policy specifically two years ago. I represent my company on Capitol Hill and work on a variety of specific issues, many of them in the news today—Medicare, drug importation, drug safety. The challenge is that health is such a multifaceted and complex issue. It impacts literally every single person on the globe. And I think we can all see the evidence that the more advances we make, the more complex the various policy issues become. Work in this field is exciting, rewarding, and exhausting.”

FREDERIC HARWOOD “The District of Columbia Licensed Beverage Association is an association representing owners and managers, and the Committee for a Living DC is a coalition of businesses and citizens fostering vibrant and active nightlife. My primary lobbying activities involve the development and enforcement of laws and regulations affecting nightlife, including nightclubs, bars, and taverns in the District of Columbia.”

WAYNE LAPIERRE I joined the NRA in 1978, and I am honored to be at the helm of what many political observers describe as a restoration of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. At a time when individual rights are routinely diminished and rarely regained, the NRA has worked to re-awaken Americans’ passion for freedom. In the past decade, our membership has more than doubled to four million-plus. This has given NRA the voice to defeat anti-gun laws, the authority to challenge and change presidential policy, the votes to defeat anti-gun candidates, and the clout to win back rights. Today, the NRA is widely seen not just as the oldest civil-rights organization in the country, but as one of the most potent forces in American politics.”

JUDY GUERIN “In the 1980s, I started a national i mage-con suiting business for cross-dressers, called ‘The Feminine Mystique’—one of the first such enterprises in the United States. I retired eight years ago to work on political Issues of sexual freedom. I am an advocate for freedom of sexual and gender expression, and write and speak frequently on the subject. I am a founding board member of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation and Federation, an organization dedicated to affirming sexual freedom as a fundamental human right.”

JAMES LOVE “For fifteen years, I have been running a small nonprofitgroupthat protects people, mostly on issues relating to access to new medicines and other socalled knowledge goods. CP Tech is best known for work on compulsory licensing of patents for essential medicines, proposals for new treaties on medical research and development, and access to knowledge. In the next three years, people will debate an important proposal to create a massive ‘prize fund’ to support the development of new drugs. Our hope Is to replace the current system, which relies on high drug prices. This is why I’m still working in the nonprofit sector.”

MIKE HOUSE “Underneath the external veneer of civility in Washington lies one tough city, and the most important asset you can have in this town is personal and professional credibility. If you ever lose that, you are useless.”

CAROLINE FREDERICKSON "As director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office, I serve with the organization’s legislative team in its efforts to promote and protect civil liberties. From the Patriot Act to the National Security Administration’s warrantless spying program, from the Voting Rights Act to online free speech, we are leading the fight in Washington to preserve Constitutional protections for all Americans. We are currently spearheading outreach to conservatives and civil libertarians, and are working with conservative allies on post-9/11 issues. I joined the ACLU at a critical juncture for civil liberties, when groups and individuals across the political spectrum are fighting to defend our fundamental freedoms from unnecessary security measures that make America neither safe nor free.”

YURI UNNO (portrait on table of contents) “I am responsible for trade-related government policies and legislation that impact Toyota’s U.S. and global operations. Toyota's current top priority in trade strategy is to see a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha Round trade negotiations, with very liberal auto-sector-tariff and non-tariff elimination. I have made several trips to Geneva in the last couple of years to meet with key WTO negotiators to promote our cause.”©