Lawsuit Between Rival Lobby Shops Shakes Profession
In a downtown Austin office tower three blocks away from the Capitol, the ninth floor has declared war on the 12th floor.
The building at 823 Congress Avenue houses both HillCo Partners and Focused Advocacy, the brawling lobby shops that clashed earlier this month when the former filed a suit charging that two of its former employees — Brandon Aghamalian and Snapper Carr — conspired to steal HillCo clients when they left to join the latter. The suit provides a rare public glimpse into the ends-over-means world of the Texas lobby and has generated intense interest within the insular community. Some insiders ...
Comments (10)
Marcia Kushner via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That's a good thing!
DanHarmon
While I am hardly a fan of either Snapper or Brandon, Jones' shop is an example of being too big, having too many client conflicts and charging ridiculous fees for access - access that is often available to someone if they simply pick up the telephone and call a state legislator. Austin is not yet Washington DC, where Congressmen are buried behind staff 9 deep.
And anyone who does not believe that HillCo PAC is nothing more than a pass through for client campaign contributions obviously went to Texas A&M. Ethics Commission, where are you?
Politico
This matter needs to be resolved quietly within the Third House. The discovery process may yield embarrassing facts that will neither benefit Hillco Partners, Focused Advocacy, or the lobbying profession.
Unicorn
Mr. Harmon,
I'd like to see evidence that any matter of substance has ever been solved by calling a state legislator directly.
No snark intended-- it's just than in my time in the lege, that's just not how things get done.
Tracy Gamble via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This is a sign of the times only in that the new generation of lobbyists -- the X's, the Y's -- happen to be from a cohort that is laden with entitlement. "I want what I want when I want it. Pay dues and wait my turn and earn my clients instead of steal them... who, me? I don't think so... That Cobalt isn't going to pay off itself."
Mark Shilling via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Steal them? You give lobbyists way too much credit. It's the client who makes the decision.
aaronday
It is as a fan and supporter of the Tribune that I am truly disturbed by Tuesday's article on the Hillco lawsuit.
The article described the Texas lobby as and "ends-over-means" world when the exact opposite is true. I am very proud of my colleagues in the lobby and find them to be the most honest people in any profession. This is no accident. The fact is, in the lobby, the means are everything and the ends must often take a back seat since integrity is the bread and butter of the profession. I also note that the article was published a day before the easily anticipated answer was filed by the other side which begs the question of whether or not this is a case of "ends-over-means reporting."
DanHarmon
Unicorn's response is typical of staff and people who don't get it - and that directly helps empower Lobbyists in this process.
Write checks directly to a State Legislator's campaign account instead and skip the high powered Lobbyist and his BS.
You'll find that the campaign check is cheaper and more direct. Most State Legislators behave like a teenage boy headed to the Chicken Ranch when it comes to their campaign contributors: they will give your their complete and undivided attention with not a brain cell in use.
The Buddy Jones' of this world understand this and that is what makes them rich.
Unicorn
So, what you're saying- Mr. Harmon-- is you don't have an example?
I'm also sure that our female members of the legislature don't appreciate being called teenage boys at a brothel.
DanHarmon
Actually Unicorn, I would never insult a hooker by comparing them to a Legislator. I have too much respect for brothel employees to insult them like that.