Scandals unveil the seamier side of Washington politics...

[Peter Frank]

Posted on Sat, Dec. 03, 2005

By JAMES KUHNHENN

Knight Ridder Newspapers



WASHINGTON — Big money is buying influence in Washington these days on a scale seen rarely, if ever, before.


Consider this: After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, big-ticket defense contracts doubled, federal spending on those contracts jumped by $100 billion - and the number of lobbyists signed up to represent defense-industry clients spiked from 900 to more than 1,650.


In what would be an audacious abuse of that nexus of money, power and influence, two defense contractors now stand accused of bribing Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. - a power on the House Defense Appropriations subcommittee - in exchange for top feed at the Pentagon trough. Cunningham resigned from Congress this week after pleading guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes, including a Rolls-Royce and a $7,200 antique Louis-Philippe commode.


That case and other high-profile corruption investigations under way have enormous implications for next year's congressional elections. At stake may be whether Republicans retain control of Congress.<snip>

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/13314002.htm

[Demit]

1. The money graf (you should pardon the pun)--

"Lawmakers and lobbyists need each other for government to function. Lobbyists provide expertise and often raise issues that require attention. But the past five years have seen a sharp rise in lobbying that's in direct proportion to Congress's spending ever more of taxpayers' money."

That's it in a nutshell. That's what makes this wave of corruption different from "they all do it". Great article! Well-written and plainly said. Hurray for Knight-Ridder, again.