Lobbying 101: Inside one company’s efforts (BellSouth whistleblower)

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10912575/

Lobbying 101: Inside one company’s efforts
BellSouth whistleblower reveals how telecom wined and dined Congress


For a rare glimpse at how Washington really works, look at a 21-page spreadsheet which lays bare how lobbyists for one company wined and dined Congress at Washington's priciest restaurants. The sheet shows hundreds of lunches and dinners, provided to 54 senators and representatives and dozens of staff over a 10-month period. All paid for by lobbyists for telecom giant BellSouth.

Vicki Taylor, an administrative assistant at BellSouth's Washington office for 16 years, provided the document to NBC News. She's been on leave since she leaked the document.

Many of the members and staff appear to have violated ethics rules, which limit gifts and meals to $50 or a total of $100 a year.

...

BellSouth says this is raw data and not evidence of wrongdoing. They are by no means the only company lavishing entertainment on politicians. And by some standards, these meals are small potatoes. Some lobbyists provide trips, tickets to concerts and ball games, and rides on corporate jets.

[NVMojo]

1. yep, and then Abramoff introduced Native American tribes into this culture

[Sydnie]

2. AH Heck -

We just fed them, we didn't fly them anywhere or entertain them like those bad guys over there. They are introducing their own "shiny thing". Quick, look over there at those bad guys. We are not like them.

They keep bringing these things out and there won't be a company that won't be tainted by the lobbyists.