Yes - this reminds me of my state where there is a requirement that between bars and breweries there has to be a middle man that resells the booze, because its safer or something stupid. The middle man is enshrined in law. When we wanted to change the state liquor laws, the middle men said I should always be here in the middle, it's my right. That really made me angry.
The middle man uses his free $peech to speak to the local politicians.