I've had a bit of a vacation from the blogosphere, just plain too busy protecting my clients to post.

Now I have to get something off my chest and I look forward to the debate that I hope it creates.

I am a lobbyist. What does that make you think of - especially in light of what's occurred recently with Abramoff in DC?

Have a mental picture. Good, now let me tell you why my profession is one of the most important to our political process.

My clients and I give tens of thousands of dollars to federal, state and local candidates running for office every election year. If we didn't how would you know who they are? How would you know where they stand on issues that are important to you? Without the necessary cash flow you simply wouldn't. The electorate would show up on election day without a clue as to who or what they were voting for.

Okay, the people reading this blog will most likely be the exception. You read the paper (only 30% of registered voters do). You go to rallies and meet candidates, you call them on the phone. YOU ARE THE MINORITY. And I don't mean 20 or 30%. I mean less than 1% of voters take the initiative to learn about the people on the sample ballots the receive weeks before the election.

This money goes to pay for the production and airing of valuable commercials, Direct Mail, newspaper ads, etc. The costs of which DOUBLE during election season for candidates. Yes, it is twice as expensive to advertise John Doe for congress as it is to advertise Viagra.

Do we receive favor for those contributions? Absolutely we do. So does the retired senior who spends his weekends hanging signs. So does the college freshman that organizes a rally on the weekend. We are all part of the process and you can bet that once that person gets elected they are going to take the time to listen to what we have to say, to pay back the favor if they can.

However, if I walk into any of their offices and demand that they do something they don't believe in, I can go to hell and I will have ruined the relationship I worked so hard to build.

Campaign contributions are an important part of the system. I firmly believe that it's not how much money is given it's the REPORTING OF THAT MONEY that is most important. The public has a right to know where it comes from.

So how do I spend my time since I have all these politicians in my pocket? I spend countless hours educating them about the issues that are important to my clients. Elected officials rely on me to give them the information they need to make a decision. Oh, and they get it from both sides. I do tons of research. I take very difficult and technical issues and make them easy to understand so that the elected official can comprehend it all.

Our elected officials are required to make decisions about hundreds of issues. Do you expect them all to go to the library and learn about them? No. They get their information from me and the lobbyist on the other side of the issue.

Let’s not forget about the public. They provide a lot of information too but it is mostly emotional, not factual in nature.

As a lobbyist I represent my clients before all political bodies. I pass laws that help protect businesses that employ the public, pay millions in taxes each year and hugely benefit the communities where they live.

Not only do I funnel money to campaigns I also provide strategies for my clients to give ten of thousands of dollars to non-profit organizations that help the poor, children, animals and old people.

I’m a republican but I support the elections of some of the most liberal people I’ve ever met. They may not vote my way but if they prove to me that they’re trustworthy and will tell it to me straight, I’ll support your election.

Finally (for now) as a lobbyist I am the negotiator, the liaison, the deal maker between two sides of an issue. If I can cut a deal that gets a new park for a community and the ability for a client to build down the street, I’ll do it. It’s not always either or.

Anyway, that’s what on my mind today.