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Lord Truscott asked 2,000 pounds/day to “'facilitate' the amendment to the Business Rates Supplement Bill on behalf of their client." He would "make sure it is granted." The Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists got it all on tape. It's worth watching at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5618786.ece

At current exchange rates, that's less than many D.C. lawyer/lobbyists hope to charge to help you get a piece of the stimulus action. When Joe Biden says "Above all it's about creating and saving jobs now," I don't think he is is trying to help lawyers who make more than the President of the United States.

Washington can be pretty intimidating.  You may walk past the White House on our way to the Commerce Department, or the Capitol heading over to RUS. That doesn't mean you have to pay a small fortune to a lobbyist to accomplish things.

I've met many of the folks at RUS and NTIA over the years, and they are honestly dedicated to helping smaller companies as well. Of course it helps to have the commissioner's former (or future) law partner at your side, but I think you'll be surprised how much help you get without a guide. At the FCC, going in with a lawyer could hurt you even if their knowledge helps. Most of the FCC is sick of the usual suspects leaning on them for favors. When someone outside the usual comes by and has something worth saing, the reception is often warm.