PSoTD

In the legal system, there's a concept of public defender - if you cannot afford an attorney, an attorney will be provided to you, paid for by government.

I've been thinking about lobbying in the same realm. If lobbyists are really a key to getting legislation passed, and executive branch decisions made, for the benefit of corporate citizens, doesn't that put the noncorporate citizen at an extreme disadvantage in governing?

Shouldn't there be some experimentation with an "Office of the Public Lobbyist" available to private citizens who wish to lobby government for change or correction that is paid for by government? You'd have to prove you couldn't afford a lobbyist...

The next couple of days I'm going to try to catch up on some stories I had bookmarked but were ignored as the Katrina disaster unfolded. Here's one of them:

A coalition of non-religious organizations has hired the first lobbyist in Washington D.C. to represent the rights of "Godless" Americans.

On Sept. 19, former Nevada State Senator Lori Lipman Brown will begin her duties as director of the Secular Coalition for America (SCA). The SCA is a 501(c)(4) lobbying organization in Washington D.C. dedicated to advancing secularism at the federal level. As director, Brown will focus her energies on lobbying, coalition building and fundraising.

"Now that we have a lobbyist in Washington, Congress can no longer ignore the 30 million Americans who do not practice a religion. This is the first step in breaking the religious right's stronghold on cultural politics in our nation's capital," said Tim Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS). The IHS is a founding member of the Secular Coalition for America. Gordinier served on the selection committee that hired Brown.

30 million people is a pretty big chunk of voters. It's about time this group start tangling with all the faith-based lobbying that goes on in DC. Thank Godless.

Been a while since I've reviewed what other bloggers are posting about lobbying and lobbyists. Here's a few highlights:

From Cheaper than Therapy

Watching Haley Barbour, the governor of Mississippi, my heart goes out to him. I am watching a man overwhelmed by circumstances. His tears and outbursts show his heart and his unpreparedness for such a role. I am watching a man that should be acting as a lobbyist and political operative, not leading a devastated state in rescue and recovery. I pray that he rises to the occasion, but I am reminded why I do not like governors and other such leaders to come from a world of talking points, marketing, backstabbing, lobbying and electioneering.

Nasheville's News

Yesterday's lunch with Senator Rosalind Kurita provided a stark contrast between the two Democratic forerunners. Kurita, once seen as the underdog of the Democratic race for US Senate, elaborated on what sets her apart from her opponent, Harold Ford Jr.

...

Kurita then presented an extensive ethics reform policy. Portions of Kurita's policy include:

Ending the revolving door. Once you serve in Congress, you shouldn’t be allowed to leave and become a lobbyist. No more 'cooling off' period, end the practice of Members of Congress using their public service for private gain.

Memphis - Faith & Politics

HARGETT CARRIED PFIZER’S WATER

The news keeps getting worse for Republicans still reeling from the decision by State House Minority Leader Tre Hargett to resign his seat to take a job as chief lobbyist in Alabama and Tennessee for drug manufacturer Pfizer. As it turns out, Hargett used his public office to go to bat for Pfizer on the most pivotal pharmaceutical bill of the 2005 legislative session. On May 10 — roughly two weeks after applying for the Pfizer lobbyist job — Hargett led a charge in the House Health and Human Resources Committee to strip out language that Pfizer and other drug companies opposed. Hargett told the Commercial Appeal there was no connection between his work on the bill and his future job with Pfizer. But Chairman Tuke said Hargett clearly was caught in a conflict. “This situation comes dangerously close to being a quid pro quo,” Tuke said. “It’s looks like an ethics rule violation to me and it’s troubling, to say the least.”

Of course, the Abramoff scandal has been reported on in a growing number of posts.