Stealth Lobbying
Interest Group Influence and Health Care Reform

This book provides new insight into how and when lobbyists influence the American policy-making process.

Amy Melissa McKay (Author)

9781009188944, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 July 2022

230 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.8 cm, 0.46 kg

'Stealth lobbying carefully tackles the perhaps hardest question in interest group research – how to identify group influence - relying on novel methods and a unique mix of new data sources about the Affordable Care Act not analyzed systematically on such a large scale before. Its approach and findings will be a reference point for those exploring the often-quiet efforts of lobbyists to put their mark on legislation in and beyond the US context.' Anne Rasmussen, Professor of Political Science, University of Copenhagen

Politicians and lobbyists have incentives to conceal any quid pro quo relationships between them, leaving scholars largely unable to link campaign money to legislative votes. Using behind-the-scenes information gained from novel data sources such as legislators' schedules, fundraising events, legislative amendments, and the campaign contributions of individual lobbyists and the political action committees these lobbyists control, Amy McKay instead investigates how lobbyists influence the content of congressional legislation. The data reveal hidden relationships between lobbyists' campaign assistance and legislators' action on behalf of those lobbyists. Relative to constituents and even average lobbyists, the lobbyists who provide campaign money to members of Congress are more likely to secure meetings with those members, to see their requests introduced as legislation, and to achieve a larger portion of their legislative goals adopted into law. These findings raise important normative concerns about the ability of some to use money to co-opt the democratic process.

1. Identifying the Hidden Influence of Lobbyists in Public Policymaking
2. Scheduling Influence and Buying Access
3. The Strategic Behavior of Individual Lobbyists and their PACs
4. Stealth Fundraising and Legislative Favors
5. Stealth Lobbying, Stealth Contributions, and the Affordable Care Act
6. Conclusions About Money in Politics.

Subject Areas: Central government policies [JPQB], Constitution: government & the state [JPHC], Politics & government [JP]