Money in Politics: Lobbying, PACs, and Super PACs

Lobbying is a form of organized advocacy, but money can provide some interests with greater access, visibility, and influence than ordinary citizens possess. This page will explain the differences among lobbying organizations, traditional PACs, Super PACs, direct contributions, independent expenditures, disclosure requirements, and legally prohibited coordination.

The FEC confirms that Super PACs may accept unlimited contributions to finance independent political activity, but they cannot contribute directly to federal candidates or coordinate their expenditures with campaigns. Federal Election Commission

Our understanding and Approach

Lobbying itself is not inherently corrupt. The First Amendment protects the right of every person to assemble and petition the government, and federal law permits paid lobbying subject to certain registration and disclosure requirements. Birdkill’s concern is that political influence is not distributed equally. Wealthy individuals, corporations, unions, trade associations, Super PACs, and professional lobbying firms may possess levels of access, funding, and institutional knowledge that ordinary citizens cannot easily match.

The principal concerns are:

  • Unequal access: Financial resources can purchase professional advocates, advertising, research, and sustained access to decision-makers.

  • Unlimited independent political spending: Super PACs may accept unlimited contributions for independent political activity, although they cannot legally contribute directly to or coordinate expenditures with federal candidates. Federal Election Commission

  • Hidden funding: Money can pass through organizations that are not always required to publicly identify their underlying donors, making it difficult for voters to determine who financed a political message.

  • The revolving door: Government officials may enter industries they previously regulated, while lobbyists may enter government positions affecting former clients. Federal restrictions exist, but their coverage and duration are limited. Government Accountability Office

  • Foreign influence and incomplete disclosure: Federal law prohibits foreign-national election spending, while the Foreign Agents Registration Act requires certain agents of foreign principals to disclose their relationships and activities. Enforcement gaps or concealed financial relationships can still obstruct public scrutiny. Department of Justice FARA

  • The appearance of pay-to-play government: A campaign contribution or lobbying relationship does not by itself prove bribery. Nevertheless, repeated overlap among major spending, private access, government contracts, appointments, and favorable policy decisions deserves careful public examination.

Our goal is not to silence political participation. It is to demand transparency, equal access, enforceable ethical boundaries, and a government that can demonstrate that public policy is being written for the public.

How to Get active:

The public’s answer to professional lobbying is organized constituent lobbying. Research an issue, identify the official with authority over it, make one specific request, and recruit other constituents to repeat that request. Follow the money: Search federal campaign contributions, committees, and independent expenditures through the FEC Campaign Finance Database. Research registered lobbying: Search clients, lobbying firms, issue areas, and reported spending through the official Lobbying Disclosure Act database. Examine foreign representation: Search public registrations and filings through the Department of Justice FARA database. Contact the correct officials: Use USA.gov’s elected-official directory to find federal, state, and local representatives. The U.S. Capitol switchboard can also connect callers at 202-224-3121. Attend public meetings: Subscribe to representatives’ newsletters, ask district offices about town halls, and monitor city-council, county-commission, legislative-committee, and regulatory hearings. Submit public comments: Search proposed federal rules and submit evidence-based comments through Regulations.gov. Organize a focused petition: Name the decision-maker, identify the requested action, explain the supporting evidence, collect constituent ZIP codes, and establish a date when the petition will be formally delivered. Request an official position: Ask, “Will you support full disclosure of political spending, stronger revolving-door restrictions, and effective enforcement of lobbying and campaign-finance laws?” Request a written response and publish it accurately. Report credible evidence: Anyone who possesses specific evidence of a possible federal campaign-finance violation may review the FEC complaint process. Complaints must be factual, supported by available records, signed, sworn, and notarized. Legislation to Research and Discuss With Congress Ask your representatives to review and publicly state their position on: The DISCLOSE Act of 2026, H.R. 7802 and S. 3991, addressing disclosure of certain political spending and its original sources. The Shareholder Political Transparency Act of 2025, H.R. 2190, addressing disclosure of certain corporate political expenditures. The Close the Revolving Door Act of 2025, H.R. 3554 and S. 1850, proposing stronger restrictions on post-congressional lobbying. Read the complete bill text before endorsing any proposal and ask legislators about specific provisions—not merely the bill’s title. These measures have been introduced but have not become law.

WHat not to do:

DEFINITELY DO NOT under any circumstances: threaten, harass, stalk, trespass, dox, or attempt to intimidate public officials, lobbyists, donors, employees, or their families.