Public Policy Benefits from Lobbyists, Say Experts

"My concern is that the word 'lobbyist' gets battered," said Larry Suffredin, Cook County Commissioner for the 13th District and a lobbyist. "I experienced this last year, when I ran for State's Attorney. My four opponents blasted me for the clients that I represent. But I won't apologize for them, because I believe people have the right to be represented."

Kevin Conlon, president of Conlon Public Strategies and a lecturer at the Harris School, added, "lobbyists provide a level of insight to a policy area that ... a staffer [cannot]." Scientists, for example, regularly travel to Washington to lobby legislators on the issues affected by their field of expertise.

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