Corporations, Special Interest Groups, & Foreign Countries spend $3.2 BILLION each year lobbying Congress. That is the UGLY. They are spending SOOOO much they are in effect buying Congress.
But, lobbying is not ALL bad and it is written into the Constitution for a reason. The concept of lobbying is the "right" of the people to approach members of our government and voice our thoughts. This is a "right" we should all support. This is the GOOD. It is only when the big money comes into play that they have perverted the intent.
With that in mind, what we should be looking at is how to put some restrictions on lobbying such as the amount of money spent, past members of Congress becoming lobbyists, and family members of sitting Congress members being lobbyists.
Here is the BAD. Seniority equals Authority in Congress and once lobbyists get their hooks in a member of Congress, they'll spend a fortune making sure that Congress person stays in Congress, getting more powerful with each passing year and burrowing deeper and deeper into the pockets of the lobbyists paying to keep them there.
So, the most powerful members of Congress, the ones who have been there the longest, the ones who tell their entire parties how to vote on legislation, the ones who are most likely in bed with the lobbyists, will NEVER let legislation pass that limits their relationship with the lobbyists.
You know where this is going... And, this is the point in my research years ago that I came to the conclusion the ONLY way to break the cycle of corruption is to add a Term Limits for US Congress Amendment to the US Constitution.
Bob Reid
Founder/Executive Director
Term LImits for US Congress-PAC
But, lobbying is not ALL bad and it is written into the Constitution for a reason. The concept of lobbying is the "right" of the people to approach members of our government and voice our thoughts. This is a "right" we should all support. This is the GOOD. It is only when the big money comes into play that they have perverted the intent.
With that in mind, what we should be looking at is how to put some restrictions on lobbying such as the amount of money spent, past members of Congress becoming lobbyists, and family members of sitting Congress members being lobbyists.
Here is the BAD. Seniority equals Authority in Congress and once lobbyists get their hooks in a member of Congress, they'll spend a fortune making sure that Congress person stays in Congress, getting more powerful with each passing year and burrowing deeper and deeper into the pockets of the lobbyists paying to keep them there.
So, the most powerful members of Congress, the ones who have been there the longest, the ones who tell their entire parties how to vote on legislation, the ones who are most likely in bed with the lobbyists, will NEVER let legislation pass that limits their relationship with the lobbyists.
You know where this is going... And, this is the point in my research years ago that I came to the conclusion the ONLY way to break the cycle of corruption is to add a Term Limits for US Congress Amendment to the US Constitution.
Bob Reid
Founder/Executive Director
Term LImits for US Congress-PAC
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