Legislators as Budget Initiators and Lobbyists

Little attention has been paid to the legislator as lobbyist and budget initiator. To assess this role, we have analyzed additions to the 1981 budget of three agencies by the Department of Interior and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Data were taken from testimony of outside witnesses, members of Congress, and agency personnel. Staff were also interviewed. Members of Congress were active in initiating funding that would benefit constituents. They were also generally successful in this lobbying role. Nonlegislative witnesses were usually not able to secure budget add-ons unless legislators as lobbyists concurred with their requests. Specific requests by witnesses fared better than general ones.