The Influence of Lobbying Activityin State Legislatures: Evidence from Wisconsin

Abstract

This study attempts to assess the degree of influence interest groups can exert on the state policy process, specifically via their lobbying activities. The analysis uses data from the 2005–06 Wisconsin Legislative Session to assess the association between lobbying activity and legislative outcomes in one state legislature. The study finds a direct association between lobbying activities and bill outcomes, while also exploring the potential influences of both key political actors and public attention. Public attention is found to reduce the effects of lobbying efforts, suggesting that lobbying is most effective when focused on less salient issues.

Small‐Group Dynamics, Ideology, and Decision Making on the US Courts of Appeals

“…One can imagine that the repeated interactions between legislative members on committees or subcommittees would constitute an amenable environment within which to apply small‐group theoretical approaches. The same could be true for bureaucratic processes such as rule making or for aspects of interest group lobbying (e.g., Grasse and Heidbreder ). Given the effects we have uncovered in this article about specialization's role in structuring decision making, we are particularly intrigued by the possibility that scholars of politics and administration might build on our findings by undertaking similar projects in the context of city councils and nonprofit governing boards.…”

Advocacy and influence: Lobbying and legislative outcomes in Wisconsin

“…3 In alternative specifications, bill salience -as measured by newspaper coverage -was also interacted with the various measures of lobbying efforts, as suggested by Grasse and Heidbreder (2011). These interactions did not reveal any significant differences in the effects of lobbying efforts on 'salient' compared with 'non-salient' issues.…”

“…This type of group-level analysis, however, may overlook the influence of lobbying on individual bills. It cannot account for the environmental factors surrounding each bill that a group lobbies and the aggregate effect of all lobbying activity on a particular bill (for example, Grasse and Heidbreder, 2011). Here, I try to address this gap by examining whether the progress of individual bills through the legislative process is affected by the lobbying efforts of organized interests.…”

“…Although Grasse and Heidbreder (2011) provide compelling evidence of lobbying influence, particularly for low salience bills, the analytical models they present are limited in several ways. First, the analyses do not go very far in distinguishing between the various theories of lobbying, as they do not account for campaign contributions and the amount of money groups spend on their lobbying efforts.…”

“…Indeed, a recent study takes this approach finds considerable more evidence of a significant influence of lobbying activities on bill passage. Grasse and Heidbreder (2011), analyzing the passage of bills in the Wisconsin legislature during the 2005-2006 session, find that the net balance of groups' aggregated lobbying activities significantly affects the probability of a bill passing, but this effect is mitigated by public attention to the issue.…”