Når ærendet er å påvirke : : lobbyvirksomhet på Stortinget - med en casestudie avd Finanskomiteens behandling av avgift på lakohol høsten 1998

Abstract

For the majority of the members of The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs in The Storting - The Norwegian Parliament-, the many meetings with lobbyists have become an important part of their work schedule. Especially during the annual budget proceedings in the fall, representatives from different organisations want to meet with the committee or its individual members. It is arguably interesting to consider the experience and the reactions of the Members of Parliament who have been exposed to this type of lobbying. How do different forms of lobbying take place in relation to the MPs and what are the MPs reactions to and attitudes towards the phenomenen of lobbying? Most of these MPs found the contacts with lobbyists mainly positive. Can we then conclude that lobbying, as we know it today, has become an esteemed part of parliamentary activities which can also be claimed to contribute to quality improvement of decisive political proceedings? A majority of the committee´s members admit that the information put forward by the lobbyists, were difficult to use because all relevant pieces of information may not be included. To ensure that input by lobbyists can contribute to quality improvement of decisive political proceedings, it is important that the possibility to give and receive relevant information, is not being improperly used.

These are questions which are being discussed in the thesis, and a case exemplify the different issues. A major outcome of the exploration indicates that experienced MPs found the kind of lobbying shown in the chosen case to be an interesting new feature of lobbying: The fact that lobbyists from two opposing organisasations like Vin- og brennevinimortørenes forening (= an association of liquor importers) an Avholdsfolkets Landsråd (= an association og total abstainers) gathered for a hearing on tax on alcohol, indicated that these lobbyists not solely aimed at realising their own interests, but that they in a given situation also were willing to pay attention to some other involved parties. These lobbyists were on this background considered very trustworthy by the politicians. This is worth noting, as credibility seems to be a decisive factor when a lobbyist wants to be taken seriously by the MPs. The information that lobbyists put forward, can then be considered and responded upon in a serious manner in a decisive political proceeding. The outcome of this case can thus be said to support the theoretical foundation of the thesis.