Reply #56: Well, it's rather hard to believe that there are politicians who would independently write [View All]

[PA Democrat]

legislation requiring us to pay more for weather forecasting or to pay more for prescription drugs (think Medicare Part D)if there were not influence by lobbyists in the form of contributions.

What was done is not illegal under current laws, but it is corrupt IMO. A politician that would write legislation to enrich a few at the expense of the greater good is corrupt, even if he is working within the law.


http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0630-20.htm

Fred Wertheimer, chairman of the Democracy 21 organization has been toiling half a lifetime to reduce the role of money in US politics. "DeLay has made it an art form. You have to 'pay to play', you have to provide campaign finance for his party if you want to have any influence." So how corrupt is the system? Mr Wertheimer says: "It's corrupt with a small 'c'. As a rule, you're not talking about classic quid pro quo bribery corruption. Politicians aren't getting personally rich out of it, unlike other countries where money used to buy influence goes to the personal benefit of the office-holder."

After the 1994 victory, Mr DeLay set up a project aimed at consolidating Republican power. It too boils down to a deal. Lobbyists and trade and industry associations would be allowed virtually to write legislation. In return, the lobbying firms would hire Republicans.

The result has been a semi-purge of former Democrat lawmakers-turned-lobbyists. Today's lobbyists pour their clients' money into Republican ideological projects, and use their contacts to round up more funds for Republican candidates. As successive elections strengthened the Republican grip on Congress, the system has become steadily more entrenched.