Dems, clean up Washington! Strip lobbyists of their power to raise money for members of Congress!

[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_schneide...

[texanshatingbush]

1. Also strip Congressmen of the ability to give money to fellow Congressmen........

It translates into a favor owed, and ultimately means the recipient owes loyalty to some other Congressman, instead of the people who elected him/her. DeLay's PACs come to mind.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Excellent point, but lobbyists and the corporations they represent fill those PAC coffers.

If lobbyists cannot serve as fundraisers for members of Congress, their PACs' coffers will be greatly diminished.