The GOP’s disturbing “K Street Project”

Most Americans have never heard of the “K Street Project.” For that matter, most Americans have probably never head of K Street. But this project is shaping politics in Washington in a way no one ever thought possible; no one, that is, except those fiendishly clever conservatives who orchestrate Republican political strategies.

The project recognizes that Washington’s lobbying industry — principally located on Washington’s downtown K Street — is practically another branch of the federal government. Lobbyists, particularly those representing wealthy and power business interests, can shape legislation, dictate policies, influence the legislative calendar, and raise critical campaign contributions for their allies. As far as I can tell, there are only two important differences between a powerful lobbyist and a powerful lawmaker: the lobbyist gets hired, not elected; and the lawmaker is open to public scrutiny while the lobbyist anonymously works out of public view.

When Republicans took control of Congress in 1994, Newt Gingrich helped implement the “K Street Project”: a concerted effort on the part of the GOP majority for their party to quickly take control of Washington’s lobbying apparatus, through intimidation, hardball political tactics, and even private threats when necessary.

In one of the more striking and disturbing examples, Gingrich and Tom DeLay intentionally blocked a vote on an intellectual property bill in the House in 1998 because the Electronics Industry Association announced it intended to hire a new director — who happened to be a Democrat. No Republican meant no legislation, Gingrich and DeLay said. (DeLay later got a slap on the wrist by the House Ethics Committee for the stunt.)

If you think that’s bad, that’s really just the tip of the K Street iceberg.

A terrific front-page article in today’s Washington Post explains how Republicans are “reaping big financial rewards” by using the K Street project to “oust Democrats from top lobbying jobs in Washington.”

As the Post explains, “[V]irtually every major company or trade association looking for new top-level representation is hiring or seeking to hire a prominent Republican politician or staffer” because of the K Street Project.

This is of tremendous significance. As Republicans methodically take control of Washington’s lobbying infrastructure, the GOP enjoys unprecedented benefits. Party-sponsored lobbyists improve ties between the party and business interests, open new fundraising doors, and ensure that congressional legislation sought by powerful industries is consistent with the GOP’s conservative agenda.

With so much at stake, Republican congressional leaders aren’t afraid to throw their weight around to make sure lobbying firms comply.

“[S]everal top officials at trade associations and corporate offices said privately that Republicans have created a culture in Washington in which companies fear hiring Democrats for top jobs, even if they are the most qualified,” the Post explained.

The Post pointed to several examples, but the most blatant was when Services Committee Chairman Michael Oxley (R-Ohio) pressured the Investment Company Institute (ICI), a consortium of mutual fund companies, to fire their chief lobbyist because she was a Democrat. Oxley’s staff suggested to industry officials that a congressional probe of the mutual fund industry might ease up if ICI complied.

As the Post reported it, here’s how the system works:

Top GOP lawmakers monitor job openings at K Street lobbying firms. Lobbyists meet every other week with Republican leaders such as Sen. Rick “Man on Dog” Santorum, at which time Santorum and others begin to recommend Republicans to fill the various posts, including current GOP lawmakers.

Once a Republican is being considered for the job, GOP congressional leaders begin contacting lobbyists’ clients to endorse the hand-picked applicant. The Republican National Committee, which is chaired by a former lobbyist, keeps a record of which firms hire which Republicans, presumably to keep track of who gets rewarded later for their obedience and who gets punished for their betrayal of the party.

Though the Post didn’t mention it, congressional Republicans are helped in this endeavor by Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist, the powerful GOP activist, who publishes a list (blacklist?) of every lobbyist who works for or contributes to Democratic candidates to ensure that these people are denied lobbying jobs in the future. As TomPaine.com’s blog noted, the practice has been labeled “extortion” by DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe.

Now I can appreciate that when Democrats were in the congressional majority, they too enjoyed increased contributions from the lobbyists’ clients. I guess that’s just the benefit of being in charge. But at no point did you see Democrats blacklisting Republican lobbyists out of potential employment nor were the Dems holding bills hostage to ensure other Dems were hired for key lobbying jobs. And for goodness sakes, you definitely didn’t find Dems telling industries that congressional probes would go easier if they “played ball” and fired their Republican lobbyists they way Oxley did.

Democrats just don’t seem comfortable with these kinds of hardball tactics. Maybe that’s why we’re in the minority.