Talk about selling votes...
One college student advertises his vote for sale on eBay for $10 as an obvious joke and political state, and he's facing a felony charge. Yet our politicians "sell" their votes all the time with a wink or a nod and no one bats an eyelash. Oh, the injustice.
But now there's a fun and easy way to check pols donations with their votes with the handy data at MAPLight.org. (The MAP part is an acronym for "money" and "politics.") Check out this chart of former California Legislature Speaker Fabian Nunez's voting record crossed with this campaign contributions.
Total Campaign Contributions Received: $2,211,513 Top 10 Interests FundingInterest Contributions Voted with this Interest
Attorneys & law firms $216,557 78% (46 out of 59 bills)
State & local government employee unions $125,500 96% (408 out of 426 bills)
Construction unions $94,250 94% (79 out of 84 bills)
Teachers unions $69,541 99% (176 out of 178 bills)
Physicians $66,045 82% (132 out of 161 bills)
Police & fire fighters unions and associations $55,700 93% (200 out of 214 bills)
Insurance companies, general $38,075 44% (23 out of 52 bills)
Casinos, racetracks & gambling $35,000 95% (42 out of 44 bills)
Native American tribes & governing units $30,700 78% (21 out of 27 bills)
Electrical workers/IBEW $27,700 96% (22 out of 23 bills)
Hmmm. Interesting.
You are right on with your exposure of our bought-and paid-for legislators. I used to discount the term "Special Interest" but in my maturing to realities of the political world of today, I have turned in the opposite direction.
Most all politicians are living examples of Jessie Unrah's adage: "Money is the mother's milk of politics". witness the Fabian Nunez's donor list.
You take their money, you vote their interest...forget the damned taxpayer.
Thanks for the effort.....Don Clinton