It's understood that a lobbyist's job is to curry favor with lawmakers, to get special legislation or tax breaks or spending that will benefit the lobbyist's employer. In Washington, D.C., and elsewhere, there have been attempts to limit the influence of lobbyists on lawmakers by limiting the flow of gifts or mandating disclosure of gifts to lawmakers.

In an apparent attempt to bypass the restrictions on direct gifts, lobbyists have found other ways to express their thanks to cooperative lawmakers.

A report last week revealed that several national defense contractors were among the contributors to the symphony orchestra in Johnstown, Pa. But the Johnstown Symphony, which, as a small-city organization, is similar to the Butler Symphony, is special in having Fortune 500 companies on its donors list.

The story begins to make sense when it's understood that U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, heads a congressional committee that doles out multimillion-dollar defense contracts — and that his wife, Joyce, is a major fan and supporter of the Johnstown Symphony.

The list of generous givers to the symphony at a recent event was headed by separate $100,000 pledges from General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman. Two other defense contractors, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, are giving $50,000 each, and PMAGroup, a major defense lobbying company, is kicking in $25,000.

But why would these companies be so generous to the Johnstown Symphony?

Apparently these donations are "thank-you" gestures to Rep. Murtha for steering highly lucrative defense contracts to General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. And no doubt the PMAlobbying groups wants to remain in Murtha's good graces too.

A recent New York Times article notes that these indirect gifts are being reported in Washington for the first time. And in the first six months of 2008, $13 million worth of gifts was given to charities and nonprofits with connections to about 200 members of the House and Senate.

A review of the giving reveals lavish gifts — that were targeted at appropriate lawmakers — from companies and organizations with business before Congress.

The formerly secret giving to lawmakers' pet charities is now public information, based on ethics rule changes that were approved by Congress in 2007.

The Times article notes that the defense contractors said they had business connections to Western Pennsylvania, and that their gifts were intended to support community programs in the region. A spokesman for Boeing said the company supported the arts in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country.

But Butler's symphony should probably not be holding its breath, waiting for a check from Boeing.

In response to an e-mail question from a reporter asking if Murtha had any concerns about the companies trying to curry favor or influence him as a powerful congressman, a Murtha spokesman replied, "No."

But Murtha's record as the most effective lawmaker at landing earmark spending, the targeted and often questionable spending also known as pork, cannot be overlooked. He topped all lawmakers in 2008 by landing close to $200 million in earmark spending. And he is a well-known and powerful vote trader in Congress, dispensing favors involving other lawmakers' votes or defense-related funding that can be directed to favored lawmakers' districts.

Defense contractors have learned over the years that having an office in Murtha's district is a step in the right direction toward getting lucrative government contracts.

An earlier Times article from 2006 noted that "Murtha's patronage has transformed Johnstown into a national hub of defense business, attracting giants like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman." The article also noted that "Members (of Congress) have watched with envy as Murtha has used earmarks to remake Johnstown, an impoverished former steel town that now includes the Murtha Highway, a Murtha airport and Murtha health centers."

The $325,000 in gifts to the symphony from the defense contractors is one way of saying "thanks." And this new relationship between special interests and lawmakers is just another glimpse into how things work in Washington.