Reply #9: Repubs were good for lobbyists. No. of lobbyists DOUBLED under Bush took the WH

[JohnWxy]

This is easily explained. Businesses knew with a Republican administration in the WH that the Government was for sale.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/lobbying-emerges-as-huge-growth-industry">Lobbying emerges as huge growth industry ... after Bush was carried into the White House by Antonin "the reign maker" Scalia.

WASHINGTON - To the great growth industries of America such as health care and home building add one more: influence peddling.

The number of registered lobbyists in Washington has more than doubled since 2000 to more than 34,750, while the amount that lobbyists charge their new clients has increased by as much as 100 percent. Only a few other businesses have enjoyed greater prosperity in an otherwise fitful economy.(more)
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RE your comment:

1. "There are 7 contractors, hired by and paid by the State Dept, for every one military person in Afghanistan, for example."

Now, I know Logistics is a very big job and involves about one person for every combat person in any war, no matter who is in the White House - but could you document your ratio of seven to one?

In a review of contracting of logistical services in Iraq for the period of 2004-2007, http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/96xx/doc9688/MainText.3.1.shtml">the CBO concluded the ratio of contractor personnell to military was about 1 : 1.

"The United States has used contractors during previous military operations, although not to the current extent. According to rough historical data, the ratio of about one contractor employee for every member of the U.S. armed forces in the Iraq theater .."



2. "and of course all the people in other countries who were hired to do what we used to do in this country, etc." ..."etc."?? I don't know how to respond to that.

sending jobs over-seas is a practice of businesses typically championed by Republican as promoting "efficiency". But does it help the country to outsource jobs to other countries (I of course am NOT talking about hiring people in other countries necessary to support revenue generating operations (i.e. sales) in those countries)- especially at a time when so many are out of work here?...This is sort of like selling your organs for cash and thinking this is a 'winning' long term strategy.

To address this and other jobs issues, the Democrats have proposed the http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc.cfm?doc_name=fs-111-2-118">American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 - which is being fought by Republicans all the way through the House and Senate

Republicans tried to kill the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (HR 4213) throughout this year. Senate Republicans’ rejection of the bicameral Senate-House compromise on the bill in June 2010 was particularly egregious because the various provisions of this larger legislation would have helped save or create well over a million critically needed jobs in the near term. (Economic Policy Institute, 5/25/10 and direct communications in July 2010; Roll Call Vote 190)

It should also be noted that by opposing the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, Senate Republicans opposed ending tax loophole giveaways to multinational corporations that encourage American jobs to be moved offshore. In addition, the bill would have significantly scaled back a tax planning method exploited by wealthy investment fund managers to pay taxes on their compensation at lower rates taxes than other services providers, like teachers and firefighters.