The Business of America is Lobbying

Corporate lobbyists are everywhere in Washington. Of the 100 organizations that spend the most on lobbying, 95 represent business. The largest companies now have upwards of 100 lobbyists representing them. How did American businesses become so invested in politics? And what does all their money buy?

In his new book, The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics Became More Corporate, New America senior fellow Lee Drutman draws on extensive data and original interviews with corporate lobbyists to provide a fascinating and detailed picture of what corporations do in Washington, why it matters, and most importantly, how we can make sure that their presence doesn’t undermine our democracy.

Lee Drutman will be joined by NPR’s Power, Money and Influence Correspondent Peter Overby to discuss his new book.

Follow the discussion online using #PolitiCorp and following @NewAmerica.

Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event. 

Participants:

Lee Drutman
Senior Fellow, Political Reform Program, New America
Author, The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Politicized and Politics Became More Corporate
@leedrutman

Peter Overby
Power, Money, and Influence Correspondent, NPR
@peteroverby