JimBowie1958
Old Fogey
- Sep 25, 2011
- 63,590
- 16,772
There are more than 12,000 corporate lobbyists that work Congress on a daily basis.
"Imagine a bold headline blaring, "An Army of 1,500 Lobbyists Swarms Capitol Hill."
"But that wouldn't be news, since it happens every day. In fact, an occupying army of Gucci-clad corporate lobbyists is permanently encamped in Washington, numbering not a mere 1,500 — but more than 12,000. Yes, that works out to nearly 22 lobbyists for every member of the House and Senate, and they come armed with explosive levels of campaign cash to keep lawmakers toeing the corporate line."
Corporate Lobbyists Challenged by a Growing ‘Populist Lobby’
John Boehner was a notorious suck up to lobbyists, even one time passing out tobacco company checks on the House floor prior to a vote.
"Lobbyists enjoy access to establishment politicians of both major parties. But Boehner leaves behind a career that is marked by a particularly extreme coziness with K Street.
"He was once caught handing out tobacco industry campaign checks on the House floor before a vote on tobacco legislation.
"In 2009, Boehner slowed down House proceedings to allegedly attend the “Boehner Beach Party,” an annual event hosted by lobbyists. Before he became speaker, Boehner served as the House GOP contact for regular meetings with lobbyists and convened a weekly meeting with lobbyists called the “Thursday Group.”
"And for a period of time, Boehner rented a Capitol Hill apartment from a lobbyist.
"As he raised millions from corporate political action committees, Boehner encouraged lobbyists to have a direct influence over the policy process. Under Speaker Boehner, the reverse revolving door became a blur, with more and more corporate lobbyists hired to manage the day-to-day business of key congressional committees and to serve as senior staff.
"Boehner at one point called on bank lobbyists to be more aggressive when dealing with congressional staff, declaring: “Don’t let those little punk staffers take advantage of you.”
"Even with a Boehner exit, lobbyists probably will not despair. House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., whose chief of staff is a former lobbyist and who is also known for his ties to the lobbying establishment, is expected to replace Boehner.
"Speaking to Roll Call, John Feehery, a former GOP aide who now lobbies, was nonchalant about the shift. Boehner “had a very close relationship with K Street — that’s just kind of how it is,” Feehery said, adding, “McCarthy’s got a lot of good contacts on K Street, too.”
Lobbyists Mourn House Speaker John Boehner's Departure
So despite Boehner being run out of the Speakership, the only serious candidate for the Speakership is another suckup to corporate lobbyists, McCarthy.
Is it any wonder that corporations are now spending more than $2 billion to run their lobbying operations on Congressional Hill?
Is it any wonder that almost all job creation since 2000 went to foreign immigrants, legal and illegal that work for corporations?
All Employment Growth Since 2000 Went to Immigrants
And Silicon Valley IT corporations already have a very cozy relationship with McCarthy.
Silicon Valley would welcome Kevin McCarthy as new House speaker
Silicon Valley sees ally in McCarthy
How in Gods Name, is the GOP so owned and controlled by corporate cronyism that the only serious candidate, even one so ham-fisted and inept as McCarthy, is the only one considered to have a chance to become Speaker?
Makes me think that the real enemy is not Russia, it is not ISIS, it is not the Chicoms and their internet launched attacks on every government server on the planet, no, the real enemy of the American people are the massive corporations that have taken control of our elected officials, to include Obama all the way down to the newest hack in Congress.
How Corporate Lobbyists Conquered American Democracy
"Today, the biggest companies have upwards of 100 lobbyists representing them, allowing them to be everywhere, all the time. For every dollar spent on lobbying by labor unions and public-interest groups together, large corporations and their associations now spend $34. Of the 100 organizations that spend the most on lobbying, 95 consistently represent business."
"Imagine a bold headline blaring, "An Army of 1,500 Lobbyists Swarms Capitol Hill."
"But that wouldn't be news, since it happens every day. In fact, an occupying army of Gucci-clad corporate lobbyists is permanently encamped in Washington, numbering not a mere 1,500 — but more than 12,000. Yes, that works out to nearly 22 lobbyists for every member of the House and Senate, and they come armed with explosive levels of campaign cash to keep lawmakers toeing the corporate line."
Corporate Lobbyists Challenged by a Growing ‘Populist Lobby’
John Boehner was a notorious suck up to lobbyists, even one time passing out tobacco company checks on the House floor prior to a vote.
"Lobbyists enjoy access to establishment politicians of both major parties. But Boehner leaves behind a career that is marked by a particularly extreme coziness with K Street.
"He was once caught handing out tobacco industry campaign checks on the House floor before a vote on tobacco legislation.
"In 2009, Boehner slowed down House proceedings to allegedly attend the “Boehner Beach Party,” an annual event hosted by lobbyists. Before he became speaker, Boehner served as the House GOP contact for regular meetings with lobbyists and convened a weekly meeting with lobbyists called the “Thursday Group.”
"And for a period of time, Boehner rented a Capitol Hill apartment from a lobbyist.
"As he raised millions from corporate political action committees, Boehner encouraged lobbyists to have a direct influence over the policy process. Under Speaker Boehner, the reverse revolving door became a blur, with more and more corporate lobbyists hired to manage the day-to-day business of key congressional committees and to serve as senior staff.
"Boehner at one point called on bank lobbyists to be more aggressive when dealing with congressional staff, declaring: “Don’t let those little punk staffers take advantage of you.”
"Even with a Boehner exit, lobbyists probably will not despair. House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., whose chief of staff is a former lobbyist and who is also known for his ties to the lobbying establishment, is expected to replace Boehner.
"Speaking to Roll Call, John Feehery, a former GOP aide who now lobbies, was nonchalant about the shift. Boehner “had a very close relationship with K Street — that’s just kind of how it is,” Feehery said, adding, “McCarthy’s got a lot of good contacts on K Street, too.”
Lobbyists Mourn House Speaker John Boehner's Departure
So despite Boehner being run out of the Speakership, the only serious candidate for the Speakership is another suckup to corporate lobbyists, McCarthy.
Is it any wonder that corporations are now spending more than $2 billion to run their lobbying operations on Congressional Hill?
Is it any wonder that almost all job creation since 2000 went to foreign immigrants, legal and illegal that work for corporations?
All Employment Growth Since 2000 Went to Immigrants
And Silicon Valley IT corporations already have a very cozy relationship with McCarthy.
Silicon Valley would welcome Kevin McCarthy as new House speaker
Silicon Valley sees ally in McCarthy
How in Gods Name, is the GOP so owned and controlled by corporate cronyism that the only serious candidate, even one so ham-fisted and inept as McCarthy, is the only one considered to have a chance to become Speaker?
Makes me think that the real enemy is not Russia, it is not ISIS, it is not the Chicoms and their internet launched attacks on every government server on the planet, no, the real enemy of the American people are the massive corporations that have taken control of our elected officials, to include Obama all the way down to the newest hack in Congress.
How Corporate Lobbyists Conquered American Democracy
"Today, the biggest companies have upwards of 100 lobbyists representing them, allowing them to be everywhere, all the time. For every dollar spent on lobbying by labor unions and public-interest groups together, large corporations and their associations now spend $34. Of the 100 organizations that spend the most on lobbying, 95 consistently represent business."
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