Lobbyist Stanley J. Aronoff told the Columbus senator, who was assembling complicated legislation to restructure the electric industry, that he was sending over some visitors. Aronoff, a former president of the Senate, also told his fellow Republican that he would phone again during the visit. Aronoff, who would be representing the clients witnessing the interruption, could make contact with an important lawmaker anytime he wished. As if Aronoff, with 36 years' experience navigating Statehouse corridors from the inside, needed additional help, he had demonstrated access. The scenario, nevertheless, provides a vivid example of the pull that ex-insiders have at the Statehouse.
Many lobbyists shrug off the advantage, noting that everyone has access.
We're an interpreter. If you go to China, you get an interpreter and you get somebody who knows the culture. If you're going to deal with the government, you'd better understand their language and you'd better understand their culture. Carefully worded laws and regulations are worth millions of dollars to some corporations and other interested parties. Of 1,142 bills introduced during the 1997-98 session of the General Assembly, only 236 were passed.