Do Dog and Pony Shows Make a Difference? How Much Do Hearings Really Matter?

Early in my lobbying career I assumed, like most other beginning lobbyists, that a key to passing our legislation were the hearings. However, over the years, I've come to view them as many other lobbyists do—“dog and pony shows” that require a good deal of preparation and must be undertaken, but which seldom produce additional votes beyond those secured in one-to-one advocacy.