SNEK POLICY
End the Paid Lobbying Industry
Citizens should be able to petition government. Selling privileged access to government is a different thing.
End professional paid access
SNEK supports ending the professional paid lobbying model. Citizens, businesses, unions, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations can still contact government, submit comments, testify, organize, petition, and advocate publicly.
Private meetings with outside interests should generally be initiated by the government official when information or expertise is needed. Lawyers, engineers, scientists, policy experts, and other specialists can explain issues when their expertise is requested.
No revolving door
Former elected officials and senior government officials should face a permanent ban on becoming paid lobbyists.
Meetings involving outside organizations seeking government action should be logged publicly, including who attended, whom they represented, the general subject, and the action being discussed.
Show who wrote the language
If an outside organization drafts legislation, amendments, regulations, or material portions of them, that contribution should be disclosed.
People and organizations actively seeking influence over an official should not be able to simultaneously finance that official’s campaign.
FULL POLICY DETAILS
The longer version
Why SNEK thinks this
Citizens have a right to petition government. SNEK’s objection is to a professional industry built around selling privileged access, relationships, revolving-door influence, and private pressure that ordinary citizens cannot realistically match. The goal is to preserve advocacy while eliminating paid access as a business model.
How it would work
Private citizens and organizations can still write, testify, organize, publish arguments, submit comments, hire lawyers, and advocate publicly. When government genuinely needs outside expertise, officials can request meetings with engineers, scientists, lawyers, trade groups, unions, nonprofits, businesses, or other knowledgeable people. Influence meetings should be logged publicly, and outside organizations that materially draft bills, amendments, or regulations should be identified.
Where SNEK leaves room
Not every conversation with government is lobbying. A constituent asking for help, a business explaining a technical problem at an agency’s request, or an attorney representing a client in a legal matter should not be swept into a fake prohibition. The core line is paid political access and influence as an industry. Former senior officials should face a permanent ban on turning their public office into a paid lobbying credential.
Related SNEK policies
Political Money Should Come From Actual People • Readable, Single-Subject Legislation