Lobbying is one of the most common and well-known ways that money can influence regulations and policies. Special interest groups spent a record $4.2 billion lobbying federal lawmakers in 2023. And because of Congressional gridlock at the national level, lobbyists have begun pouring more and more money into the states to get what they want. Since 2015, they’ve spent nearly $14 billion on lobbying at the state level.

Money talks, especially in an election year. It costs an average of $2 million to win a seat for the U.S. House of Representatives and nearly $20 million to win a Senate seat. In 2020, over $14 billion was spent on federal elections, making it the most expensive election cycle in U.S. history, and the 2024 election is projected to be just as expensive if not more.

If you are a candidate running for office whose regulatory views align with a corporation’s or special interest group’s, you might find yourself with powerful financial backing. If your views don’t align, you can bet they’ll be funding your opponent.

According to a 2023 report, there were more than 460 former members of Congress who were employed in high paying jobs by lobbying firms. 

Too many members of Congress and their staff have abused public office by treating it as a launching pad for their next high-paying job. This culture is deeply embedded and normalized in Washington–and it is ripe for corruption.

These are individuals who have insider knowledge of how the system works and have contacts across various roles in government. Now, they’re leveraging that insider know-how to help corporations and special interest groups tweak regulations and policies in their favor.

These former elected officials who move between roles in government and positions in private industry (lobby firms or corporations) are part of what’s known as the “revolving door” phenomenon which can lead to a form of “regulatory capture” where regulations or policies are shaped by those who previously worked in or will work in the industries being regulated.

Elected officials can spend up to 30 hours per week fundraising. That leaves them with less time to meet with constituents and actually do their job legislating. And, let’s face it: laws and regulations are dense, complicated, and full of legalese, and not every Member of Congress is an expert in everything.

This presents an opportunity for industries who can: 

• Fund research and present data to policymakers with conclusions that support their regulatory interests. 
• Fund think tanks and advocacy groups who can shape public policy debates and design regulatory frameworks that align with their interests. 
• Commission economic analyses that can highlight the potential negative impacts of regulations on jobs or the economy. 
• Launch advertising campaigns and gain media coverage to frame issues in ways that support their position and sway public opinion to their side.