GOP congressman says lobbyists give him 'good input' on legislation

[turbinetree]

By Josh Israel -May 28, 2020 11:50 AM

The Georgia Republican offered a spirited defense of lobbyists' influence.

A Republican congressman offered a spirited defense of lobbyists and their influence this week, telling a right-wing interest group that he thinks the influence industry gets a bum rap.

Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), who is challenging GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler for her seat, told Turning Point USA on Tuesday that "good" lobbyists are helpful when it comes to legislative decisions.

Asked how much influence lobbyists have over bills, Collins answered, "Good ones have, I would say, good input, OK?"

"It's like anything else: you got good and you got bad. You got good politicians, you got bad politicians. You got good preachers, you got bad preachers. You got good cops, you got bad cops. Too many times we paint the lobbyists brush with too big a stroke," Collins explained, adding that they are helpful because lawmakers "cannot be experts on everything."

https://americanindependent.com/doug-collins-lobbyists-influence-house-gop-georgia-senate-congress/

So its just fine a dandy there Collins for what he is saying which is not quite clear "you ( ?) for what you want" is a good thing, you even admitted it on your video............at about the 36 second mark............so Alec and that bunch basically writes your bills to fuck over a lot of people....................and your okay with that...............I'm not................political corruption is still political corruption.........you were at one time making $174,000.00 year job and your staff is to research and see what your constitutes want............and if you can't do that............. resign.........

-snip-

His office did not respond to an inquiry about which lobbyists are "good" and what "good input" they have had in those and other legislative decisions.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.

[grumpyduck]

1. Sure, and they give him good money, too.

[gratuitous]

2. So, which lobbyists do you listen to, Mr. Collins?

Does the educators' union get as attentive a listen as the oil and gas folks? How many times have you hosted a get-together with the citizen lobbyists from the Poor People's Campaign? Is it more or less than the times you've met with pharma lobbyists? Who has your direct number, and who has to go through four or five levels of staffers before they get to talk to you?

[Arkansas Granny]

3. I wonder how much "input" goes into his pockets.

[dchill]

4. Well, that IS the Republican philosophy of government, right?