Interest Groups and Their Role in Public Policy Process - MEMA - Essay Example

number Interest Groups and their role in Public Policy Process: The Case of MEMA Introduction Motor and EquipmentManufacturers Association (MEMA) is an organization that represents companies that “manufacture aftermarket segments, systems for the original equipment, and vehicle components of the heavy-duty and light vehicle industries. The organization was formed in 1904 and has represented more than 1000 companies. It represents its members through; Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, and Original Equipment Suppliers Association (MEMA (c)). The organization acts as an advocate to suppliers on regulatory and legislative issues (MEMA (a)). It identifies issues affecting the industry and proposes to the relevant authorities on how changes should be made on the policy or the matter, to avoid harmful effects to the industry. Examples of its advocacy initiatives are three letters addressed to relevant authorities touching on legislative issues affecting the industry. One letter was addressed to an acting director and general counsel of the office of government ethics. There was a proposed amendment to limit gifts from registered lobbyists and lobbying organizations. MEMA was not for the idea. The main issue here was that, the proposal would prohibit government employees from using the WAG exception to attend lobbying organizations’ variety of events and programs. MEMA, therefore, wrote a letter to address this issue on behalf of the companies it represented. It explained the effect of such an amendment and the companies’ contribution to the economy (MEMA (d)). Another letter was addressed to the Honorable Carl Levin, a US Senator by then (2008), touching on the issue of Patent Reform Act (S.1145). The organization was concerned that this reform would weaken its patent system. It therefore addressed a letter to the Senator, before the issue was taken up in the Senate (MEMA (b)). Recently, President Obama uncovered a new plan for a “clean and secure energy future” (Walsh). MEMA has already analyzed the proposal and the opportunities it provides its members. It would, therefore, like its suppliers to be included in the proposal. The proposal is meant to set up an Energy Security Trust Fund, aimed at collecting $2 billion for a period of over 10 years. This is to be used in research into initiatives such as bio-fuels, domestically produced natural gas, electric vehicles, and fuel cells. Since 30% of the $18 billion research and development investment in automotive comes from the supply base, MEMA is concerned that they need to be included in the proposal. The organization therefore, wrote a letter to the white house advocating for the inclusion of suppliers in the proposal (Walsh). Interest groups are there to provide valuable information to policy makers. According to Crain and Santos, information is always provided in the form of testimonies to committees. Information is provided under oath and so the interest groups ensure they provide truthful information. This supports one of the actions of MEMA (Crain & Santos). MEMA has provided a testimony before “the U.S. House Representatives Financial Services Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee” (MEMA (c)). The groups provide such information to the relevant committees free of charge. This may bring in the question of where they get their funds, because, obtaining such kind of information to present to a committee as a testimony is costly, both in terms of money and time. They also do not make money. Interest groups are funded by both government and private institutions. This affects the organizations ability to lobby for something that is of their interest. Most of these organizations were supported by their founding organizations or groups for various reasons. The main reason is advocacy. This could be the case with MEMA. Albiston and Nielsen, however, indicate that the structure of funding has shifted from foundational support to government grants. Most of the interest groups are no longer funded by their founders, or are funded but not enough and so takes up some funds from the government. There are interest groups that are still funded by their foundational groups/people, and avoid government grants because of what they would like to achieve. Such are the conservative organizations that would still want to engage in lobbying, class actions, and receiving attorney's fees. It has been established that restrictions on funding hinder the ability of the interest groups, to negotiate favorably. It also hinders representation of vulnerable client communities, and systemic change. Motor and Equipment Manufacturers can be classified as vulnerable community. If MEMA receives grants from the government, the ability of negotiation for what favors this industry will be reduced. MEMA therefore has to depend on its clients to ensure strong negotiating capacity (Albiston & Nielsen). Interest groups also protect democracy in different ways. In the human rights example, people’s rights are advocated for and this keeps the policy makers in line. It prevents a fall back to human rights violations, encouraging people to exercise their rights, and have access to what is rightfully theirs. Considering MEMA, it is an organization formed to advocate for the rights of the companies. Without MEMA for example, various issues affecting these companies would be ignored. The issue of amendment of an Act that affects the companies’ businesses and operations would be ignored. The companies democracy would be meddled with, and the amount of freedom to fight for what is appropriate and right for the companies would be reduced or non-existent (Crain & Santos). The existence of various types of interest groups also protects the public from public policies that benefit only one group. Existence of an interest group ensures the public has policies that favor them. Depending on the aim of its formation, members will always be advocated for, to get the best out of the public policies. This is exactly what MEMA is for. It is evident in the three examples provided (letters presented to relevant authorities), that public policy influences that it focuses on, were meant to favor the members and avoid ill-treatment, or damaging effects to the companies (Crain & Santos). Research studies indicate that the process of development, refining and implementation of public policy is always influenced by interest groups. They define options, set the government agenda, direct implementation and influence decisions. According to Grossmanna, interest groups are frequently involved in most of policy implementations. They have been accredited with; 31 important executive orders which is 41.3% of the total executive orders, 279 new laws enacted which represents 54.8% of the total important legislative laws passed, 46 judicial decisions which is 36.8% of the total, and 35 administrative agency rules which is 39.3% of the total. Interest groups influence policy change for various reasons. A human rights interest group for example, will be focused on any violations or deprivations of human rights that the policy would bring if enacted. The group may also propose on how the policy should be improved to include certain issues that help improve human rights. Depending on the reasons, resources and other relevant factors such as interest group networks and level of involvement, interest groups can influence enactment, development, definition or change of a policy through various means. The means through which they influence the policy process are such as; general interest group support (this is general support where no tactics are use), Congressional lobbying, Issuance of reports (for example reports by non-governmental organizations), Constituent mobilization, New Group mobilizations, protests, resource advantage, and switching sides by groups (Grossmanna). Crain and Santos indicate that outcomes can be influenced directly or indirectly. Direct influence means conducting research to find facts or technical information, to present to the government or the policy makers. It involves helping to draft legislation, lobbying members of the committees, contacting government officials to present view points, speaking to congressional leaders, and supporting candidates with personnel or work. Direct means of influencing government decisions include; filing of suits in courts of law, holding demonstrations, lobbying, and serving on state commissions and state boards. Indirect influence means passing the right information or the intended information indirectly. This is through making public endorsements of candidates that are likely to favor the organization’s position and speaking with the press (Macedo de Jesus), socializing with public officials, electioneering, educating the public, and making campaign contributions (Crain & Santos). The groups mainly influence policy outcomes through politicians, bureaucracy, the population, and government officials. This is done by informing these entities of the policy options, opportunities related to it, and warning them about problems that will arise. It is clear from the above, that MEMA has used a politician, a government official and has described problems associated with relevant policies of concern to ensure their interests are achieved. These are just two examples, but since its inception, it is highly likely that there are other tactics that the organization has used. Henschen, Gerston, and Christensen also note that interest groups use a variety of strategies to guide policies to ensure their interests are achieved. They operate at all levels of government. The nature and extent of any interest groups’ activities depend on its resources and goals, but the influence is either achieved directly or indirectly. These are as described above by Crain & Santos. MEMA has done research to find out how some amendments to certain Acts (like the S. 1145) would affect the industry in which the companies it represents belong. It has contacted government officials on this issue and has helped in drafting of relevant legislations. These are supporting information showing that MEMA as an interest group has similar tactics as those commonly used by interest groups. There are also different types of interest groups. There are advocacy groups and business interest groups. Advocacy groups include; single-issue advocates, public interest groups, and representatives of identity groups. Business interests groups include; trade associations, individual businesses, peak associations (associations of associations such as National Association of Manufacturers, AFL-CIO, the National Chamber of Commerce) (Grossmanna). MEMA is an advocacy group under representative of identity groups. Conclusion Main findings from this research show that interest groups are involved in public policy implementation and reforms. They influence policy change for various reasons. Common tactics are divided into two: direct and indirect. Direct tactics involve lobbying and activities that require direct communication with the politicians and government officials or policy makers. Indirect means involve activities such as campaigns, demonstrations, educating the public and indirect nominations to show support of some policy or not. They operate at all levels of government. Their operations are influenced by the resources they have, the source of funding and their goals. MEMA, in its current move to advocate for inclusion of suppliers in the new proposal of clean and secure energy future, has used direct means to advocate for its members. Works Cited Albiston, C. R. and Nielsen, L. B. “Funding the Cause: How Public Interest Law Organizations Fund Their Activities and Why It Matters for Social Change”, Journal of the American Bar Foundation.2013. Web. Crain, Ernest and Santos, Adolfo L. “Texas Politics Today”. 14th Ed. New York: Cengage Learnin, 2009. Print. Grossmanna, Matt. “Interest Group Influence On Us Policy Change: An Assessment Based On Policy History”, Interest Groups & Advocacy 2012 (1): 171–192. Web. Retrieved on 28th April 2013 from: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/iga/journal/v1/n2/full/iga20129a.html Henschen, Beth., Gerston, Larry N. and Christensen. “Government 2011, California Edition + Bind-in Printed Access Card”. 2nd Ed. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Macedo de Jesus, Anderson. “Policy Making Process and Interest Groups: How Do Local Government Associations Influence Policy Outcome in Brazil and The Netherlands?”2010, 4 (1): 69-101. Web. Retrieved on 28th April 2013 from: http://www.bpsr.org.br/english/arquivos/BPSR_V4_n1_artigos/article_Anderson_Jesus.pdf MEMA (a). “Learn About the MEMA Network”. 2012. Web. Retrieved on 28th April 2013 from: http://www.mema.org/Main-Menu/About-Us MEMA (b).“MEMA Letter on Patent Reform”. 27th February 2008. Web. Retrieved on 28th April 2013 from: http://docs.piausa.org/110th-Congress%20%282007-2008%29/08-02-27-MEMA-Patent-Reform-Ltr-1-Senate.pdf MEMA (c). “Testimony of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association Before the U.S. House Representatives Financial Services Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee”, 2009. Web. Retrieved on 28th April 2013 from: http://financialservices.house.gov/media/file/hearings/111/andrea_testimony.pdf MEMA (d). “MEMA Comments on RIN 3209-AA04”. 14th December 2013. Walsh, Dustin. “Advocacy Group Urges Obama To Include Suppliers In Energy Proposal”, CRAIN's Detroit Business. 26, March 2013. Web. Retrieved on 28th April 2013 from: www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20130326/BLOG012/130329897/W6dvocacy-group-urges-obama-to-include-suppliers-in-energy-proposal# Read More