The economic stimulus plan is looking to spend money on “shovel ready” infrastructure projects. Even though stimulus bill funds have not yet been spent, fiscal policy has already generated increased economic activity in one sector: lobbying.
NPR’s Marketplace reports that Washington lobbyists earned a record-breaking $3.2 billion last year. Sheila Krumholz, Executive Director for the Center for Responsive Politics, states:
“There was this unique opportunity that government was handing out money and anytime that happens, companies will spend what they must to get in line to get a piece of the pie.“