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What about money? Should congressmen be allowed to accept money from the lobbyists to promote their pet project?

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Now you have gotten to the crux of any problem . No one in Congress or in government (like Sec States ) should be allowed to peddle their influence while in office . The corruption is in the government ;not in the lobbyists ,and that is what the laws should address. But once someone leaves government ,no one has a right to restrict them in their right to obtain a job . Now I would agree that full disclosure is in order . If Joe Biden as VP is browbeating Ukraine while his son is doing side businesses in the country ,and his brow beating enriches his son ;then yes it should be in the open .Or if John Podesta starts a lobby corp ;oh let's call it 'Podesta Associates,', after he was White House Chief of Staff he should be registered as one and we should know who he represents . This is typical of Congress . They are the problem so they create laws that don't make themselves accountable .

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This is typical of Congress . They are the problem so they create laws that don't make themselves accountable .

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So very true, and we then proceed to let them get away with it

I just have to add ;if let's say the teacher's gives members of Congress their members dues in the form of donations to advance their causes ;that is between the teachers and their union. As long as the donations are transparent there is no issue. I really don't care about the amount ,or restricting the amount that corporations or other interests give to campaigns . To me ,disclosure is my compromise on the issue . There are others who can make a persuasive case that even goes too far in restricting 1st amendment rights .

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Originally Posted by tomder55

The corruption is in the government ;not in the lobbyists .

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I'm not sure what you're saying here. The lobbyist who offers a pol a few hundred thou for his vote and/or influence is NOT corrupt?

depends about what you are talking about ....campaign contributions ? Got no problem with that since contributions have to be transparent .Stuffing the congressman's pockets ? Already illegal . I can tell you this ...No ethical lobbyists does what you suggest .Even the days of the martini lunches are history.

How naive you are, lobbyists find a way to grease the path and the palms thus advancing their agenda, if it were no so they would not do it

Not all lobbyist are ethical I would be willing to bet, and the dark money, like super pacs and their bundlers can take huge chunks of cash from anybody, even foreign money. Both sides do it.

PS

Michigan booted the repubs out and seized EX Gov Snyders state cell phone. 15 local and state officials indicted, a couple for manslaughter.

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Michigan booted the repubs out and seized EX Gov Snyders state cell phone. 15 local and state officials indicted, a couple for manslaughter.

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But you can be sure that the indentured servants in Detroit and Flint will not kick their democrat kings and queens out. Just amazing.