Check Out Today's USA Today - Cover Story Article - "Lobbyists Unlimited In Honoring Lawmakers......

[global1]

it talks to the 'special-interest money that flows around the gift ban'. It equally 'hits' Repugs and Dems with Teddy Kennedy pegged at receiving $5,050,000. This is lobbying cash donated to non-profit groups linked to the legislators. All make comments like these monies don't influence how they vote. Supposedly there is also a database on lobbyists' spending to honor public officials at:
www.usatoday.com. I haven't had time to check that out as I'm off to a business meeting now - but I'm sure someone here on DU will do that and report back.

Another article in the Money Section of the same paper speaks to the issue of 'Big Banks find government regulations are 'an irritant' and are set to "Get-out-from-under TARP Plans set". Essentially they want to return the TARP money they received so they can get out from the increased oversight that came with the bailout money.

I surprised that USA Today has two such articles in today's issue. We need to push this harder to MSM so that these articles get talked about in local papers and cable news channels.

Especially the first article as it relates to this 'Healthcare Reform' that is going to happen soon. It will be apparent that the money from big insurance and big pharma is greasing that wheel. Say good-bye to a single source plan or even a public option with teeth into it after these corporate interest groups line the pockets of our 'pols'.

[Psychic Consortium]

1. It is time for corrupt leadership to end. We need leaders who represent the people

not the corporations.

[Orsino]

2. Yeah, money doesn't influence how they vote...

...but lobbyists keep up that flow out of the goodness of their hearts, simply because economic times are so good. :eyes:

"It's the money, stupid."

[bushmeister0]

3. Aetna spokesman Mohit Ghose says the $50,000 they gave Kennedy

naturally had nothing to do with the healthcare debate but rather, "advances our goal of continuing to take a leadership role in public policy."

See? It's all on the up-andup. Of course, what they mean by "leadership" is meeting behind closed doors with Kennedy's staff and basically writing the legislation. Most folks kind of have the idea the laws are written by the actual "leaders" we elect, but that's all Mr. Smith Goes To Washington crap.