So how did we go from treating lobbying as illegitimate or illegal to protected free speech? ***. In 1785, the King of ... For decades, when business failed to pay lobbyists, America's courts considered their employment unlawful and refused to make the businesses pay their lobbyists' fees. read more
So if you're Bill Gates, you should work as hard as you can to make lobbying illegal. You should ban professional lobbyists, even block phone calls and emails. After all, you'll still have access. read more
But alas, that would be illegal — federal law prohibits companies from making direct donations to candidates. So instead, you hire a lobbying firm. Here’s where things get corrupt. That lobbying firm can legally organize a swanky fundraiser that brings in $100,000 for the senator’s reelection campaign. read more