Lobbying Data: Best Lobbying Datasets & Databases

What is Lobbying Data?

Lobbying data refers to information about the activities of lobbyists and their interactions with policymakers, including the issues they are advocating for, the money they spend, and the people they meet with. It’s used by a variety of groups, including advocacy organizations, journalists, academics, and policymakers themselves, to understand the lobbying landscape and to inform policy decisions.

Lobbying Data Glossary

1. Lobbyist: A person who is hired by an organization or an individual to influence legislators or government officials to support a particular cause or legislation.
2. Bills: Proposed laws that are introduced in legislative bodies, such as the U.S. Congress or state legislatures.
3. Contracts: Agreements between two or more parties that outline the terms and conditions of a business relationship or transaction.
4. NGO: Non-governmental organization, a non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group that is organized on a local, national, or international level to address issues in society.
5. Filing: The act of submitting a document or information to an authority, such as a government agency or court.
6. Senate: The upper chamber of the U.S. Congress, composed of 100 senators, two from each state, who are elected to six-year terms.
7. Registrant: An individual or entity that is required by law to register with a government agency or authority, such as the U.S. Department of Justice, if they engage in lobbying activities.
8. Foreign entity: An individual or organization that is based outside of the United States and engages in lobbying activities in the U.S. on behalf of a foreign government, foreign political party, or foreign corporation.

What are the most common issues governments are lobbied on?

Governments around the world are regularly lobbied on a wide range of issues. While the specific topics of lobbying can vary depending on the country, there are some issues that tend to be the most common. The most common issues that governments are lobbied on are:

Economic Policy

Economic policy is one of the most important issues that governments are lobbied on. This includes issues such as taxation, trade policies, regulations, and subsidies. Lobbyists often represent corporations, trade groups, and industries that are affected by economic policies. They work to influence the government’s decision-making process to promote their own interests.

Lobbying case study: Tobacco tax

Tobacco taxation is an area where lobbying groups have played a significant role in influencing government economic policy. One example of this is the case of the tobacco industry’s lobbying efforts in the United States in the 1990s and early 2000s.

During this time, the tobacco industry was facing increasing pressure to reduce the harmful effects of smoking on public health. One way that the government sought to do this was through the use of taxes on tobacco products. The idea was that by increasing the cost of cigarettes, people would be less likely to smoke and ultimately reduce their risk of developing smoking-related illnesses.

However, the tobacco industry was strongly opposed to these efforts and began lobbying Congress and other government officials to reduce or eliminate these taxes. The industry argued that high taxes on tobacco products would lead to job losses in the industry, hurt small businesses that sell tobacco products, and create a black market for cigarettes.

To push their agenda, the tobacco industry formed a number of powerful lobbying groups, such as the Tobacco Institute and the National Smokers Alliance. These groups employed a range of tactics, including campaign donations, public relations campaigns, and direct lobbying of lawmakers, to sway public opinion and influence policy decisions.

Their efforts paid off in the short term, as Congress passed a law in 1998 that capped the federal excise tax on cigarettes at 39 cents per pack. However, as public awareness of the health risks associated with smoking continued to grow, so did pressure on lawmakers to increase tobacco taxes.

In response, the tobacco industry shifted its lobbying efforts to the state level, where it had more success in blocking tax increases. As a result, today, the United States has one of the lowest cigarette tax rates among developed countries, with an average state tax of just $1.81 per pack.

The case of tobacco taxation illustrates how lobbying groups can influence government policy by using a range of tactics to sway public opinion and national economic policy.

Environmental Issues

Environmental issues are another common area of lobbying. This includes issues such as climate change, energy policies, and conservation. Environmental lobbyists work to promote policies that address environmental concerns and protect natural resources. They represent a variety of groups including environmental organizations, energy companies, and agriculture industries.

Lobbying case study: Energy sector

The energy sector is one of the most crucial sectors in the economy as it powers the various industries that drive economic growth. Simultaneously, the energy sector is also one of the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which have been identified as the main cause of climate change. To address this issue, governments around the world have implemented various environmental policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector. However, these policies are often met with resistance from lobbying groups representing energy companies.

Lobbying groups representing the energy sector often seek to influence government environmental policies to favor their interests. These groups may use various tactics, including campaign contributions, advocacy, and legal challenges, to promote their agenda. As a result, government policies may be watered down or delayed, which can lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions and further exacerbate the effects of climate change.

In 2015, the Obama administration proposed the Clean Power Plan (CPP), which aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The plan required states to come up with their own strategies to reduce emissions, such as increasing the use of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency. However, the CPP was met with opposition from lobbying groups representing the energy sector, particularly the coal industry.

One of the primary lobbying groups that opposed the CPP was the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE). The ACCCE argued that the CPP would result in higher energy costs, job losses, and an unreliable energy supply. The group also claimed that the plan was an overreach of federal authority and that it would lead to legal challenges. To support its arguments, the ACCCE commissioned a study that claimed that the CPP would cause electricity prices to increase by 11%, resulting in the loss of 224,000 jobs.

The ACCCE also engaged in a campaign to sway public opinion against the CPP. The group ran ads on TV and social media, featuring coal miners and other workers who would be negatively affected by the plan. The ads claimed that the CPP would lead to job losses and higher energy costs, which would hurt the economy and harm families.

The lobbying efforts of the ACCCE and other groups were successful in delaying the implementation of the CPP. In 2016, the Supreme Court issued a stay on the plan, which prevented its implementation until a legal challenge could be resolved. The delay effectively put the CPP on hold, and it was ultimately overturned by the Trump administration in 2019.

The case of the CPP illustrates how lobbying groups can influence government environmental policy. Lobbying groups can use various tactics to sway the energy sector, as well as other stakeholders in environmental policy, including water companies, industrialists, and agricultural organizations.

Healthcare

Healthcare is a critical issue that affects the lives of many people. Lobbyists in the healthcare industry represent various interest groups such as insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and hospitals. They work to influence policies related to healthcare reform, access to healthcare, and pricing of drugs and medical treatments.

Lobbying case study: Family planning

Family planning refers to the practice of controlling the number and spacing of children in a family through the use of contraception or other methods. In the United States, family planning has been a contentious issue for many years, with some groups advocating for greater access to contraception and others opposing it on moral or religious grounds.

Lobbying groups have played a significant role in shaping government policy relating to family planning. Perhaps the most high-profile instances of healthcare lobbying relate to family planning laws in the United States. Several lobbying groups have been involved in advocating for or against family planning policies in the US.

One of the most prominent pro-family planning groups is Planned Parenthood, which is a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services, including contraception and abortion. On the other side of the issue, several anti-abortion groups have lobbied against family planning policies. One of the most prominent of these is the National Right to Life Committee, which is a pro-life organization that opposes abortion and contraception.

Lobbying groups on both sides of the family planning issue have had a significant influence on government policy. In the early 1970s, Planned Parenthood successfully lobbied the federal government to include family planning services in Medicaid, which provides healthcare coverage for low-income Americans.

However, in the years since then, anti-abortion groups have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to family planning policies. In recent years, several states have passed laws restricting access to contraception and abortion, and some have even sought to defund rival lobby groups operating clinics like Planned Parenthood.

This case study illustrates how lobbying groups can exert significant influence on government policy related to healthcare, particularly when it comes to contentious issues such as family planning and reproductive rights. By leveraging their political connections and financial resources, these groups are often able to shape policy outcomes in ways that reflect their own interests and values

As these three case studies indicate, lobbying can play a decisive role in shaping government policies. The most common issues that governments are lobbied on tend to be those that have a significant impact on the economy, the environment, and the healthcare system.

What are the attributes of a Lobbying Dataset?

Lobbying datasets contain a variety of attributes that provide information about the activities of lobbyists and the issues they are advocating for. Some of the most common attributes found in lobbying datasets include:

Issue ID

An issue ID is a unique identifier that is assigned to a particular issue or topic that is being lobbied. This attribute can be used to track the progress of legislation related to a particular issue, as well as to identify the interest groups that are lobbying on that issue.

Contact

The contact attribute refers to the name of the policymaker or government official who was contacted by the lobbyist. This information can help to identify the individuals who are most heavily targeted by lobbyists, as well as the frequency and nature of their interactions.

Filing ID

A filing ID is a unique identifier that is assigned to each lobbying report that is submitted to the government. This attribute can be used to track the lobbying activities of individual lobbyists or firms over time, as well as to ensure that all lobbying activity is being properly reported and disclosed.

Lobbyist Firm Name

The lobbyist firm name attribute refers to the name of the lobbying firm or organization that is employing the lobbyist. This information can help to identify the most active lobbying firms and the issues they are advocating for, as well as to track the movement of individual lobbyists between firms.

Lobbyist Count

The lobbyist count attribute refers to the number of lobbyists that are employed by a particular lobbying firm or organization. This information can help to identify the size and resources of different interest groups, as well as to understand the relative influence of different firms or organizations.

Amount (Dollar)

The amount attribute refers to the amount of money that is being spent on lobbying efforts related to a particular issue or topic. This information can help to identify the most heavily funded interest groups, as well as to understand the relative resources that are being devoted to different issues.

What are the sources of Lobbying Data?

Lobbying data can come from a variety of sources, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these different sources is key to accurately analyzing the lobbying landscape.

Public records are the most straightforward source of lobbying data, as they are documents that are required to be filed by law. These records include disclosures of lobbyists’ activities, such as how much money they spent, who they contacted, and what issues they were working on. The disclosure requirements vary by jurisdiction, but in general, they offer a wealth of information for researchers and analysts.

However, public records do have their limitations. For example, they may not capture all lobbying activity, as some lobbying efforts may be conducted behind closed doors or through more subtle means. Additionally, the information provided in public records can be incomplete or difficult to interpret, making it challenging to draw meaningful conclusions.

That’s why many researchers are using companies like LobbyingData.com as a source of truth for lobbying activity. As a professional data provider, LobbyingData.com ensures that all its records and API calls are comprehensive and easy to understand. This way, clients can put lobbying data directly to use in their analytics and research.

Which groups are using Lobbying Data?

Lobbying data is a valuable resource for a variety of groups that are interested in understanding and shaping public policy.

Advocacy Organizations

Advocacy organizations, including non-profits, trade associations, and interest groups, use lobbying data to understand the positions of their opponents and allies, as well as to track the progress of legislation that is important to their mission. This information can help them craft more effective messaging and strategies, as well as to build coalitions with other organizations that share their goals.

Journalists

Journalists also rely on lobbying data to investigate the relationships between policymakers and lobbyists, as well as to report on the positions and activities of various interest groups. By analyzing lobbying data, reporters can identify conflicts of interest and uncover hidden agendas, thereby providing their audiences with a more complete picture of the policy-making process.

Case study: Uncovering legislation background

Journalists often use lobbying datasets to investigate the relationships between policymakers and lobbyists, as well as to report on the positions and activities of various interest groups.

For example, a journalist might use a lobbying dataset to investigate the role that lobbyists played in shaping a particular piece of legislation. They might identify key lobbyists and track their interactions with lawmakers, as well as the amount of money they spent on lobbying efforts. This information could help the journalist to uncover potential conflicts of interest and to report on the ways that special interests may have influenced the policymaking process.

The journalist might also use the dataset to identify patterns in lobbying behavior, such as which interest groups are the most active or which issues receive the most attention from lobbyists. These insights enable the journalist to identify emerging trends and to report on the changing landscape of interest group politics.

Academics

Academics use lobbying data to conduct research on various aspects of the policy-making process, including the role of money in politics, the effectiveness of different lobbying strategies, and the impact of interest groups on policy outcomes. This research can inform public debates and shape our understanding of the way that policy decisions are made.

Case study: Research into policy-making

Academics often use lobbying databases to conduct research on various aspects of the policy-making process. For instance, an academic might use a lobbying database to examine the role of lobbying in shaping healthcare policy. They might use the database to identify which interest groups are the most active in the healthcare sector, as well as the strategies that they use to influence policy.

By analyzing the data, the academic might be able to identify patterns in lobbying behavior, such as which types of interest groups are the most successful in achieving their policy goals.

Additionally, the academic might use the database to analyze the relationship between lobbying activity and policy outcomes, such as changes in healthcare regulations or funding levels. This research could help to shed light on the ways that lobbying shapes policy decisions and could inform debates about the role of interest groups in the policy-making process.

Policymakers

Finally, policymakers themselves use lobbying datasets to inform their decisions and to evaluate the potential impacts of proposed legislation. By understanding the positions and strategies of various interest groups, lawmakers can craft policies that are more likely to be effective and can anticipate potential opposition to their proposals.

Case study: evaluating risk

Policymakers can use lobbying databases to inform their decisions and to evaluate the potential risk and impacts of proposed legislation.

For example, a policymaker might use a lobbying database to understand the positions and strategies of various interest groups that are lobbying on a particular issue, such as climate change. The policymaker could analyze the data to identify the most active interest groups and the issues they are advocating for, as well as the amount of money they are spending on lobbying efforts. This information could help the policymaker to anticipate risk of potential opposition to their proposals and to craft policies that are more likely to be effective.

Additionally, the policymaker might use the database to identify areas of agreement and potential alliances with other interest groups that share their goals. This mitigates the risk of their policy being blocked. By using lobbying data in this way, policymakers can make more informed decisions that are grounded in a better understanding of the lobbying landscape.

Can I receive Lobbying Data via API?

To subscribe to receive lobbying data via API, you first need to identify the provider that offers the API service. There are several providers of lobbying data APIs, including LobbyingData.com, OpenSecrets.org, and Lobbyists.info.

Once you’ve identified the provider and connected with them via Datarade Marketplace, you can navigate the API subscription you need. You’ll then provide payment information in order to gain access to the API. Some providers offer free trials or limited-access subscriptions, while others require a paid subscription to access their full range of data.

Once you have subscribed and received an API key, you can use it to access the provider’s database of lobbying data using the programming language of your choice. Most providers offer documentation and support to help users get started with their APIs.

Where can I buy Lobbying Data?

Data providers and vendors listed on Datarade sell Lobbying Data products and samples. Popular Lobbying Data products and datasets available on our platform are AT&T Inc. (T) all U.S. Lobbying: all historical lobbying contracts, government bills & agencies, and critical issues lobbied on. by LobbyingData.com, Amgen Inc. (AMGN) all U.S. Lobbying: all historical lobbying contracts, government bills & agencies, and critical issues lobbied on. by LobbyingData.com, and Public Sector Lobbying Tool UK - by Oscar Research (manage campaigns to national representatives) by Oscar Research.

How can I get Lobbying Data?

You can get Lobbying Data via a range of delivery methods - the right one for you depends on your use case. For example, historical Lobbying Data is usually available to download in bulk and delivered using an S3 bucket. On the other hand, if your use case is time-critical, you can buy real-time Lobbying Data APIs, feeds and streams to download the most up-to-date intelligence.

What are similar data types to Lobbying Data?

Lobbying Data is similar to Voter Data, Political Risk Data, Campaign & Election Data, Fundraising & Donor Data, and Government & Congressional Data. These data categories are commonly used for Lobbying.

What are the most common use cases for Lobbying Data?

The top use cases for Lobbying Data are Lobbying.