Government decision makers don’t have all the answers. When they are trying to pass laws and implement regulations, they need to hear from experts.

In the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment guarantees the “right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” That’s lobbying.

When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. That’s why we all need to vote.

The myth is that lobbying is a thorn in the side of good government. The reality is that lobbying makes our government better.

To Kill A Mockingbird: “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” That’s a great line. I’ve stood and walked in the shoes of a Member of Congress and a lobbyist.

When people tell me that outside interests have too much influence in Congress, I remind them of the famous quote by President Harry Truman: “The buck stops here.”   In the end, only the Member of Congress makes the vote and is accountable to his or her constituents.

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

– President Dwight Eisenhower

One of the most wonderful things about speaking to groups is that I get to hear about issues that are important to people.

I’ve spent my career in politics and government with eighteen years in the U.S. House of Representatives and twenty-two years as a top lobbyist. My message to you is that what happens in Washington matters. The best way to impact federal policy making is to get involved. You can make a difference.

“The word ‘politics’ is derived from the word ‘poly’ meaning ‘many’, and the word ‘ticks’ meaning ‘blood sucking parasites’.”