S ince becoming the majority, House Republicans have aggressively sought to make sure the corporate interests who benefit from their agenda hire more Republicans and give them financial support and lobbying help. Mr. DeLay has long had a kitchen cabinet of lobbyists who meet with him regularly. This year Mr. DeLay has used his role as liaison to the corporate world to organize business groups into loose-standing coalitions around particular issues. His office has relied on high-tech companies, for example, to build support for legislation shielding business from lawsuits resulting from Year 2000 computer problems. When he was fearful that a bill alloting emergency funds for the bombing in Yugoslavia would not pass, he enlisted the help of lobbyists of defense contractors.
Lobbyists say they report back with details of whom they contacted.
Guys who do well see more favor in our eyes. Mr. DeLay has sought to convince lobbying firms and trade associations to install more Republicans in their executive positions. The House Ethics Committee wrote a warning but took no official action after he tried to persuade a lobbying group not to hire a Democrat as its president last year. Mr. DeLay does not insist that every Republican back the leadership's legislative goals on every vote. And he loses some, such as the recent defeat of a managed health care bill favored by the Republican leadership.