Auctioning off power in Washington
Fox News
by Radley Balko
04/03/07
Between the two party primaries and the general election, spending on the 2008 presidential race likely will exceed $1.5 billion (it topped $1 billion for the first time in 2004). Toss in congressional elections, and it’s likely that total spending for control of the federal government in 2008 will top $5 billion (it was just under $4 billion in 2004). That doesn’t include state and local races, nor does it include the money spent on lobbying, which topped $2 billion in 2004, a 35 percent jump from 2001. I tend to agree with many of the editorial boards and campaign reformers troubled by the escalation in the money we spend on federal elections. Unfortunately, campaign finance reformers (and lobbying reformers) seem to be troubled for all the wrong reasons. The problem with increasing amounts of money spent on lobbying and politics isn’t that Americans are spending more and more money to buy some influence in Washington; the problem is that we’re giving Washington more and more influence to sell...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263320,00.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Radley+Balko
by Radley Balko
04/03/07
Between the two party primaries and the general election, spending on the 2008 presidential race likely will exceed $1.5 billion (it topped $1 billion for the first time in 2004). Toss in congressional elections, and it’s likely that total spending for control of the federal government in 2008 will top $5 billion (it was just under $4 billion in 2004). That doesn’t include state and local races, nor does it include the money spent on lobbying, which topped $2 billion in 2004, a 35 percent jump from 2001. I tend to agree with many of the editorial boards and campaign reformers troubled by the escalation in the money we spend on federal elections. Unfortunately, campaign finance reformers (and lobbying reformers) seem to be troubled for all the wrong reasons. The problem with increasing amounts of money spent on lobbying and politics isn’t that Americans are spending more and more money to buy some influence in Washington; the problem is that we’re giving Washington more and more influence to sell...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263320,00.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Radley+Balko
rudkla - 4. Apr, 15:56
