The lobbyists are a kind of permanent other government.
You read constantly that banks are lobbying regulators and elected officials as if this is inappropriate. We don't look at it that way.
Wall Street banks have the right to express their views to lawmakers and regulators through lobbying, but the law is clear: If they want to influence lawmakers, they must disclose their lobbying expenditures.
There’s a real fundamental need for us. You think we have a bad system now? Without us lobbyists, just see what kind of government we would have them
Private companies mostly manufacture medications that resemble what we've already got. They get it patented and, with a hefty dose of marketing, a legion of lawyers, and a strong lobby, can live off the profits for years.
Half the lobbyists in this town claim credit for the sunrise at least once a week.
What I see increasingly is that companies are playing political roles. We should actually have our research and our laws map that.
The Citizens United ruling did not invent special-interest spending; it enables corporations and unions to advocate directly on behalf of a candidate rather than running more subtle 'issue ads.'
Lobbyists didn't descend from a spaceship. They evolved organically from the way we do business.
Whenever I tell people I am a lobbyist, there is an embarrassed pause.
It is a truly powerful phenomenon when a brand makes a stand for what it believes in.
I don't view Apple or myself as an activist. What we do is for some things where we think we have deep knowledge, or think we do, or a strong point of view, we're not shy. We'll stand up, speak out - even when our voice shakes.
Corporate partners help UNICEF fund our programmes for children, advocate with us on their behalf, or facilitate our work through logistical, technical, research or supply support.
[Addressing businessmen regarding politicians:] I don't know why you're not involved in their business; they're involved in our [expletive] business every day.
There's nothing wrong with advocating for your own company.
I like that Ben & Jerry's is willing to speak out about social and political issues that aren't always safe - but are the right thing to do.
A lot of people like the idea of companies being socially involved in their community, but if you want big companies to get involved in social issues, what makes you think they're going to come down on your side?
Companies need to be very active in formulating public policy - not as a substitute for government, but as a supplement.
We have to spend a lot more time training people to be good advocates of U.S. business.
Somebody is saying this is inevitable – and whenever you hear somebody saying that, it's very likely to be a set of businesses campaigning to make it true.
