Norwalk Holds Its Own in Lobbying, But Available Money May Skew Numbers
LOBBYING
Norwalk Hour
Tait Militana
Boston University Washington News Service
04/22/09
WASHINGTON – Over the past year, Norwalk has done pretty well compared with bigger Connecticut cities when lobbying for federal dollars, but experts say that good fortune may not last.
Despite being the sixth most populous city in the state with a population of 83,000 and having a smaller lobbying budget than some of its neighbors, Norwalk and Norwalk-based organizations brought in more than $8 million in earmarked federal dollars in fiscal year 2008, according to Citizens Against Government Waste, a group that tracks federal appropriations. And in fiscal year 2009 Norwalk received $1,678,000 in earmarks.
One reason for the big difference between 2008 and 2009 funding is that in 2008 more than $5 million was earmarked for the dredging of the Norwalk Harbor.
Timothy Sheehan, executive director of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency, which handles lobbying for the city, said he has been very pleased with what Norwalk has received for its efforts in Washington.
“Over the short period of time, I certainly feel very comfortable Norwalk has gotten its return on investment,” said Sheehan. “I think we’ve done very well.”
Several experts said the size of a city and the amount of money spent on lobbying do not necessarily determine how many projects receive funding, making it difficult to measure one city against another. Ultimately, Norwalk’s lobbying success may be as much a result of the kind of projects it is proposing, the economic times and the increase in available federal grant money, as it is the city’s lobbying efforts.
As the country moves out of the recession and reduces government spending through stimulus measures, experts said, Norwalk’s federal grants could dry up.
In 2008, Norwalk spent $80,000 on federal lobbying according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a group that tracks politics and money. Of the
$8,143,050 in earmark funding Norwalk received in fiscal year 2008, more than $5,608,800 million went to the harbor dredging project.
In comparison, Stamford spent $130,000 lobbying and received $7,346,840 in earmarks, of which $4 million was used for a restoration project of the Stamford Mill River.
For all of lower Fairfield County, the federal government budgeted more than $22 million in earmarks in fiscal year 2008, according to data compiled by Citizens Against Government Waste. For fiscal year 2010, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, area cities are seeking nearly $100 million, according to requests filed on the Web site of Rep. Jim Himes, D-4.
David Grenham, a lobbyist for the Ferguson Group, which represents Stamford and Southington in Washington, said though it may look as though relatively small cities like Norwalk are getting great returns on their lobbying investment, it is difficult to actually measure success because so much depends on what money is available and how important the projects are.
“Size does not matter,” said Grenham. “What is really important is what the city is trying to get.”
According to Grenham, part of the reason that smaller cities are receiving significant government money is that there is simply more money out there and many have been very aggressive pursuing it.
In February, Congress passed the American Reinvestment Act, a dramatic expansion of domestic spending designed to stimulate the floundering economy.
Since then, Grenham said he has seen more towns seeking money for local projects.
“The stimulus has created incentives for local governments to think about federal funding,” he said.
Norwalk has nearly doubled its lobbying budget since 2006. Sheehan said the city’s 2009 lobbying budget is $90,000.
Mayor Richard Moccia said with more money available, the city has been more actively requesting funding.
“It puts you in a more competitive position,” said Moccia of the city’s increased lobbying efforts.
According to Sheehan, each year Norwalk city officials meet to develop a federal agenda or what funding they want to push for in Washington. Then the city presents its priorities to its lobbyist, Brown, Rudnick, who petitions government officials for appropriation requests. Based in Washington, the lobbyist’s job is to speak to lawmakers and request funding for town projects when appropriate legislation is being drafted.
These kinds of requests from lawmakers for funding for projects in their districts are known as earmarks.
Congressman Himes said he typically does a “sanity check” before signing off on appropriation requests to make sure the project is worthy and far enough along to warrant federal money. One recent request he said he decided not to pursue at this point is a waste-to-energy plant proposed for Stamford because he said upon review, “it became clear that more work needed to be done.”
Some days Himes said he meets with dozens of groups seeking federal funding and it is clear that people are aware there is more money available now as a result of the stimulus package.
“There is a real intensity that is probably different from what it has been in the past,” Himes said.
Norwalk leads Fairfield County in the number of appropriation requests for fiscal year 2010, seeking almost $40 million in infrastructure improvements, according to reports filed on Himes’ Web site, an amount almost equal to that being sought by Bridgeport and Stamford combined.
Nonetheless, not all towns have seen the results Norwalk has. Southington, a city of 42,000, spent $80,000 on lobbying last year and received only about $750,000 in federal appropriations.
The town decided not to continue its lobbying program in 2009.
Council Chairman John Barry said he did not feel it was appropriate to use taxpayer money to lobby in the current economic climate.
“The lobbying effort was something that was not successful,” Barry said.
David Giordano, a lobbyist with Panuzio & Giordano which represents Bridgeport, Waterbury, Norwich and Middletown, said the quality of the projects and how badly they are needed are larger factors in how much funding a city receives than how much money it puts toward lobbying.
“It’s not necessarily just dollars and cents,” Giordano said. “It’s about making a compelling argument about why this is important.”
According to Moccia the old industrial nature of Norwalk may explain why it has seen an influx of federal money in recent years. With infrastructure being a priority for the administration and many local towns, the interests at all levels of government are the same. He said that has created a great opportunity for Norwalk
“Now we have to work harder because there is more opportunity,” Moccia said. “It’s a responsibility.”
Girodano said this is an exceptional time when it comes to the amount of federal money available and that won’t always be the case.
“Considering where we are I think we have done well. But like any other city we would like to see more” federal money for projects, said Moccia.
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