Taxpayers in Winston-Salem should be calling their Congressman, the city, it seems, has simply lost their ability to get things done in Congress. But for $120k a year they can buy access and that’s just what they’re doing. So, the word is, hire a lobbyist for your city to get earmarks. “Last night, the city council voted to spend $90,000 this fiscal year (on the Ferguson Group) and the full $120,000 after that.”
Local governments spend more local tax revenue each year to hire Washington lobbyists, according to federal records. Some officials say it is a necessary tool. Lobbyists can identify projects that have the best chance of getting earmarks.
In that vein, the Winston-Salem council members, including Wanda Merschel, said that hiring The Ferguson Group has been a good investment.
?They are working the halls of Congress for our citizens,? Merschel said. The (council, through Ferguson) is trying to get a combined $800k for two projects. Over the years (the Ferguson Group) has brought more than $32 million to the city and county, after asking senators and representatives to tuck money for local projects into appropriations bills.
I just love that quote, it’s not that their congressman is working the halls of congress but rather a taxpayer funded lobbying organization is working for citizens. I also feel pretty certain that though Ferguson probably got the credit, Congressmen running for re-election will also take the credit. So which do we need more, the Congressman or the Lobbyist?
