If you really want to clean up Washington, strip lobbyists of power to chair campaigns!

[flpoljunkie]

D.C. Dispatch January 24, 2006

Political Pulse by William Schneider (CNN's political analyst)

K Street's Capitol Connection

Republicans are hoping that the corruption issue won't hurt them in November. (As we found out yesterday, it hurt them "big-time!")

Columnist Michael Kinsley once wrote,"The scandal in Washington isn't what's illegal. It's what's legal."

Consider, for example, what lobbyists do. They make campaign contributions. They chair re-election committees. They give money to foundations and political action committees controlled by members of Congress. They hold fundraisers that yield a lot more money than individual lobbyists are allowed to contribute. They sponsor retreats for lawmakers. They throw lavish parties to honor politicians.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200601u/nj_schneider_2005-01-24

[fasttense]

1. They should strip all corporate lobbyists then

tar and feather them.

[geiger]

2. you R kidding, arent you

What about freedom of association, a basic constitutional right

[flpoljunkie]

4. Read below what lobbyists are legally allowed to do. It is amounts to legalized bribery!

"Consider, for example, what lobbyists do. They make campaign contributions. They chair re-election committees. They give money to foundations and political action committees controlled by members of Congress. They hold fundraisers that yield a lot more money than individual lobbyists are allowed to contribute. They sponsor retreats for lawmakers. They throw lavish parties to honor politicians."

[warrens]

3. Make it a jailing offense for a paid lobbyist

To even TALK to a lawmaker. If they have a compelling case, there's email.

[beaconess]

5. Do you know that many registered lobbyists aren't corporate shills?

They lobby on behalf of civil rights groups, children's organizations, environmental concerns, disability groups, etc.

We've got to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.