Madison’s lax rules regarding lobbyists makes it a utopia for their profitable agendas. Ald. David Ahrens, District 15, is determined to change this.
Currently, lobbyists have unprecedented sway in city government decisions. They are allowed to serve and even lead certain committees.
If there is a conflict of interest, it is addressed by the lobbyists themselves, which means it is possible they can be paid to promote a certain agenda, and simultaneously sit on a committee that makes the decisions.
The craziest part of the status quo is lobbyists are able to vote on these committees. Not only is there potential for a conflict of interest, but these committee members aren’t even elected by the people — they’re appointed.
Ahrens’ proposal seeks to curtail Madison’s laissez-faire approach by stripping lobbyists’ ability to vote when they serve on committees.
Some in the business community, such as Susan Schmitz, a lobbyist for Downtown Madison, Inc., fear the proposal will impede the city’s ability to hear many lobbyists’ expert testimonials.
Ahrens’ proposal, however, has stated lobbyists would still be able to provide testimonies, just not vote on proposals. The proposal would require paid influencers to sit on the sidelines, to offer suggestions and attend committee meetings.
The real fear here is that lobbyists’ proposals may be harder to pass without their voting power on the committees.
The problem is corporations and business interest groups are able to give themselves unprecedented representation through lobbyists in city government. It is unlikely the city’s working class and poor would have the same ability.
In addition, lobbyists do not enjoy the same powers in the state Legislature as they do in Madison. Ahrens’ proposal would only match the city’s approach to lobbyists with the state.
With this proposal, Madison’s City Hall would once again become a level playing field for all city citizens to air their grievances, as well as influence legislation. This is how government was meant to be.
For too long in this country we have treated corporations, businesses and special interest groups as if they were a voting-citizen on the street. They’re not.
We have human needs that need to be addressed properly by those we elect. Corporations, businesses and special interest groups usually have only one goal — to make a profit.
Therefore Ahrens’ proposal to curtail lobbyists’ power in city government is a fair proposal, and one that should be swiftly enacted. It protects the power of the people, by ensuring the only people voting on committee proposals will represent the people of our city, not those chosen to represent the various special interest groups in Madison.
Nichalous Pogorelec ([email protected]) is a junior studying sociology.
