Top Interest Groups Giving to Members of Congress, Essay Example

Introduction

In the modern business environment, a number of industries work with special interest groups on a regular basis in order to achieve their objectives. For example, the healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical companies, the oil and gas industries, securities and investments, and the insurance industry benefit from their relationships with special interest groups (Open Secrets, 2014). With these industries, special interest groups provide a connection to lawmakers who are heavily influenced by the activities taking place within these industries.

Analysis

The aforementioned industries provide further evidence that special interest groups are here to stay, as they influence legislation that will impact their organizations in a favorable manner. These practices enable companies to continue to explore their options, expand their business practices, and earn significant revenues as a result of these activities. The opportunities that special interest groups provide also support the continued growth of business practices that will support specific agendas. Therefore, special interest groups facilitate these agendas and provide the level of support that is necessary to influence lawmakers to support legislation that favors these companies. This process engages lawmakers in causes that are important to them and for which they will receive different benefits that will positively impact their own needs and self-interest.

Conclusion

Many companies seek the support of special interest groups as a means of influencing lawmakers and other officials to make decisions that will favorably impact these organizations, such as Pfizer in the pharmaceutical industry, Shell in the oil industry, and Progressive in the insurance industry. This process is an ongoing phenomenon that is instrumental in enabling many companies to expand their operations and to initiate new practice methods that will have a positive impact on organizational outcomes in the form of significant revenues, new partnerships, and other opportunities to achieve greater growth and success.

References

Opensecrets.org, (2014). Top interest groups giving to members of Congress, 2014 cycle. Retrieved from http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/mems.php