President Donald Trump came to Washington, D.C., decrying lobbyists and vowing to “drain the swamp” — but six months into his administration, California’s top lobbyists say the only major changes they’ve had to make are in their language. For the most part, California government agencies lobbying in D.C. are largely focused on the same issues as always: getting a cut of the federal budget and advocating for increased federal spending, according to federal lobbying disclosures due late last month. Lobbying in 2017 means translating these pitches into Trump-ese — talking about how clients’ pet projects will create American jobs, help the country compete around the world, and save federal funds. “We’re trying to fit our clients’ agendas to match the flavor of the day,” said one lobbyist, who asked not to be named in order to speak candidly about the business. When pitching green energy projects to Trump officials, for example, “we still talk about sustainability, but we talk about it not from a climate change perspective but from a cost-reduction basis.” “It may not be called green infrastructure, it may be called something else,” added Roger Gwinn, whose firm represents several California counties and water districts. So far, there’s been no sign of a backlash from the federal government in response to California’s political leaders painting themselves as the “resistance” to Trump. “It’s pretty much the same,” said Martin Kanner, a veteran lobbyist who represents the Northern California Power Authority, among other groups...more
How sad. As long as the Republican Congress continues to fund these programs, the swamp will remain until it eventually drowns us all.
1 comment:
Republicans are funding it because they're making money off of it.
Have Dems pass over reaching regs that force people off their land, then the Reps come in and put in condos and shopping malls.
Under the color of 'green' - there is an ever growing swath of gray from the S.F. Bay to Reno that shows on the satellite maps.
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