News & Events
Jul /20/2010
Fast Food Lobbyists and the "Revolving Door"
"There are two things you don't want to see being made – sausage and legislation,” goes the saying. When it comes to fast food industry lobbying, it’s like the worst of both worlds. From New York to San Francisco, public health advocates are increasingly trying to pass legislation to ensure these unhealthy foods are appropriately regulated, but fast food giants are aggressively contesting them in the public policy arena.
The industry is well-funded and spreads the wealth around. In California alone, the trade association of the fast food industry, the California Restaurant Association, spent over $1.3 million on lobbying for the 2007-2008 legislative cycle. They have also spent more than $1 million in PAC funds over the past two legislative cycles.[1] There is also an active “revolving door” in the state. Industry lobbyists are hired by state government, and state house staffers are scooped up to work for the trade association, where their insider knowledge is crucial.
In California, the restaurant chains have given tens of thousands of dollars to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaigns for office, which may explain why the Governor cited fast food industry talking points when he vetoed the state’s first menu labeling law in 2007, despite support from more than 40 public health organizations.[2] The California Restaurant Association lobbyists that he hired to work in his office may have been influential in watering-down the compromise bill passed in 2008.[3][4]
1. Campaign Finance, "Lobbying Activity, California Restaurant Association,” California Secretary of State, http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Lobbying/Employers/Detail.aspx?id=1146228&session=2007&view=activity (accessed August 30, 2008).
2. Legislative Counsel of California, Veto Message regarding CA bill SB120 (October 14, 2007), http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0101-0150/sb_120_vt_20071014.html (accessed August 30, 2008).
3. California Governor’s Office, Press Release, "Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Senior Staff Appointments," (December 13, 2006), http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/4904/ (accessed August 29, 2008).
4. California Governor’s Office, Press Release, "Governor Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments," (May 9, 2006), http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/9563/ (accessed August 30, 2008).
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