I highly recommend the following review of two recent books on lobbying in Congress, as well as some of the reactions it has kicked up.
The general - counter intuitive - point is that the less we spend on Congress, the more dependent they become on the expertise that lobbyists have on the subject of legislation before them. This is called the legislative subsidy. If you want better - neutral - legislation free from the influence of lobbyist, you have to pay for it.
The subject is worth a class discussion.
- How to Fix Politics By Adding More Money to the System.
- Wonk Time: Increase the MRA in the House?
- Lobbying as Legislative Subsidy.
