Why Did Dems Support the Bankruptcy Bill? (Kos) [View All]

[AnnInLa]

Really excellent analysis, including insights from a Dem Congressional aide. www.dailykos.com This is a must-read, and I am curious about your agreement or disagreement with Kos.

snip

Vote for it, and your donations from the financial services sector continue to pour in, helping you stay in power. And this isn't the sort of high-profile issue that could ultimately cost you votes (and definitely not one that could spur attacks from a Republican opponent).

Vote against a bankruptcy bill destined to pass anyway (remember, the GOP has its majorities) and you get very little political benefit while losing one of your main sources of election cash. The less cash-on-hand you have heading into the election season, the more likely you are to face a well-funded opponent. So why would a House Democrat vote against the bill? They won't. And while some of you may blame them anyway, that won't jibe with the reality on the ground.

Of course, that's the House, where the GOP can do what it pleases. But what about the Senate, where a filibuster could've derailed the bill?

As Democrats in the minority, we have to chose our battles, and do so judiciously. Social Security and judges are higher profile and offer bigger political rewards than the bankruptcy bill did. I don't blame Reid for refusing to enforce caucus discipline.

But this is clearly Exhibit A of the corrosive effect of money in our political system -- a bill supported by nary a voter, yet pushed through by a powerful, rich industry. The credit card companies have had their risk reduced by a significant amount. Yet they will not lower rates to reflect their reduced risk. They will not be prevented from giving credit to those who can least afford it (like poor college students). They will do nothing except reap huge dividends on their capitol hill investments.