k street

President Obama back in 2008:

“It's a choice between having a debate with the other party about who has the most experience in Washington or about who can change Washington,  because that's a debate that we can win."

When you read that and then see stories like this you really feel like you have been punched in the stomach:

Main Street has had a tough year, losing jobs and seeing little evidence of the economic revival that experts say has already begun.

But K Street is raking it in.

Washington’s influence industry is on track to shatter last year’s record $3.3 billion spent to lobby Congress and the rest of the federal government — and that’s with a down economy and about 1,500 fewer registered lobbyists in town, according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Many lobbying firms have escaped the worst of the corporate belt-tightening, thanks, in large part, to the ambitious agenda set out by President Barack Obama — who, ironically, came to Washington with a pledge to break what he considered the undue influence of special-interest lobbyists.

Now couple that with this story:

More than $600 million has been spent so far this year trying to influence U.S. lawmakers working to overhaul the health-care system, reports show.

The practice of leaving the Senate to become a lobbyist is all to common:

“It used to be that lawmakers were coy about any ideas they had about heading for K Street, waiting until their terms ended before announcing they were beginning a more lucrative career,” Politico’s Kenneth Vogel opines.

Not anymore.

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez — who recently quit the country’s top legislative chamber — joined up with lobbying firm DLA Piper less than two weeks after resigning his seat. Martinez was recently replaced by the former chief of staff to Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is now seeking Martinez’ former seat.

Martinez resigned to “spend more time with his family”. Well I guess that is the most honest thing we have heard out of Washington in a long time. We just misconstrued what he meant by family. It was supposed to mean his extended family of lobbyists.

This is one of the greatest threats our young democracy faces. Lobbyists have far too much influence in Congress, and finding elected officials to stand up to that influence becomes harder when they have to fear chances of future employment outside of the realm of elected official.

Harry Reid has taken steps towards cleaning up the corruption in Congress
with a bold move. He has banned all of his staff from accepting gifts from
lobbyists. Via

Raw Story:

In a memo last night, Reid chief of staff Susan McCue instructed Reid
staffers not to accept any gifts from lobbyists. The move is a precursor to
a package of ethics reforms the senator plans to introduce Wednesday with
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the 'Honest Leadership Act.'

Reid staffers will continue to be able to speak with lobbyists, an aide
said, though all travel, gifts and meals will be banned.

View complete article

here.

Reid and Pelosi are set to introduce legislation to Congress tomorrow to
address the problems of the corruption. The bill is called the "Honest
Leadership Act" and will ban gifts from all lobbyists. Hopefully other members
will follow suit and support this act. It will be a hard battle with people like
Santorum fighting for K Street.

 The fact is our government is "by the people for the people" and this
act is returning our government back to its roots.  Hopefully this can
become a precursor for larger campaign reform and making it so the common man
can once again afford a run for office.