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Below
are frequently asked questions that we commonly receive
at the Malloy Group. If you have additional questions, click here to
e-mail us and we'll provide you with an answer.
 What is a Lobbyist?
When did Lobbying begin and why is it necessary?
Why does my firm need a Lobbyist?
Trade Associations vs. Corporate
Representation
What is a Lobbyist:
A
lobbyist or legislative/executive agent functions as
a liaison between government and business, while
providing clients with the following important services:
 Discrete Representation: For
some clients, our representation is more discrete. We
work with our clients behind the scenes in an effort to
build community and legislative support regarding a
particular issue, piece of legislation or public policy
that may affect them.
Monitoring: Monitoring and
early warning of potential government policy shifts
affecting your business.
Communication: Providing your
firm access to the key decision makers in government and
the ability to translate your concerns regarding specific
issues for their consideration.
Influence: The Malloy Group
offers the ability to draft and file legislation and/or
regulations when necessary and to follow them through the
legislative process.
When did
Lobbying begin and why is it
necessary:
Lobbying,
when a private group tries to include government decisions has been a
part of American politics since the nation was founded. In fact,
the practice to "petition the government" is guaranteed under the First
Amendment.
According to Sen. Robert Byrd,
D-W.VA, one of the earliest accounts of lobbying occurred in 1792, when
a group of Revolutionary War veterans hired William Hull to lobby
Congress for more money for their services. Since then, federal
and state lobbying has mushroomed into a multi-billion dollar industry.
Critics believe the practice of lobbying goes against the common good,
however, many officials believe that lobbying plays a vital role in the
electoral process, saying that lobbyists help candidates understand the
issues of most interests to voters.¹
Why does my firm need a Lobbyist:
While
most companies have fully staffed sales, marketing and
legal teams, many do not have adequate coverage in
government relations and find themselves unprepared in
the event of unexpected and/or unfavorable legislation,
regulation and public policy.
In Massachusetts
alone, nearly 7,000 individual legislative proposals were
filed in both the Senate and House in late 2004 for
consideration during the 2005/2006 legislative calendar.
Additionally, there are 200 members in both the Senate
and House, with 39 committees and an average turnover of
approximately 12% every two years.
When legislation is
proposed that may affect your company/business you need 1)
to be aware of that proposal; and 2) you need to
know which legislators or committees will review the
bill. Often times an unfriendly amendment is quietly
attached to a bill and can be passed without warning -
these are the kinds of situations active representation
will avoid.
The Malloy Group constantly monitors all
proposed legislation and amendments and has solid
relations with the legislative and executive branches of
government and access to the key decision makers. We will protect and promote your company's
interests in the arena of government and public policy.
Trade Associations vs. Corporate
Representation -
When your trade association's
Lobbyist may not be enough.
As
in most trade associations, memberships can vary widely
based on the size of your corporation and the members of
the association. Your corporation could be a small member
in a large association. If a larger member of the
association proposes a bill that would be bad for your
company, you may not be able to depend on your trade
association to choose one member over another on the
issue. This is not an uncommon occurrence in politics.
The following provides a perfect, real-life example of
such a situation:
Some of the smaller
hospitals in Massachusetts have expressed an interest
in performing "open heart" or cardio
surgery and have proposed a bill allowing them to do
so. Some of the larger and more powerful, teaching
hospitals in Boston that currently have this ability
and exclusivity to perform the surgery are,
obviously, opposed to the legislation. The
Massachusetts Hospital Association sees its
membership on both sides of this issue, but is unable
to choose, and so its lobbyists will not get involved
in this process. Each hospital, within the same trade
association, needs separate coverage to protect its
own interests.
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