Did you ever wonder what happened to all those promised reforms we were going to get in Washington after the Abramoff scandal broke? I often do.I think it may have something to do with the fact that the Chair of the House Government Reform Committee is one Tom Davis of Virginia's 11th District. Apparently, Tom Davis likes his lobbyist money and he doesn't like to share.
As MSNBC Reports, when it comes to lobbyist dollars, Tom Davis isn't about let those sneaky lobbyists go off and start trying to curry favor from Democrats in anticipation of the now, nigh-inevitable Democratic takeover of the US House of Represenatives.
National Republican Campaign Committee Chair, Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) -- the guy responsible for rounding up the money to fund the re-election of the House Republicans -- gathered a group of Republican lobbyists to give them a stern warning. DonGt try and hedge your bets and start giving to Democrats between now and election day, he warned. We at the campaign committee will be watching your contributions, he warned. And we will share the news of your contributions to Democrats with other members of the Republican caucus, he warned.
In other words, lobbyists who want to continue to receive favors from the Republicans who control the Congress had better keep playing ball. This story was reported this week in the Capitol Hill newspaper of record, Roll Call, and then it was done. No fuss, no outrage, no onslaught of accusations of corruption. Why? Because this has been the Republican way of doing business since they took control of Congress. It doesnGt even faze Washington anymore.A sitting member of Congress threatens the use of the public policy process in retaliation to anyone who supports the other partyGs agenda of environmental safety, healthcare access, education, civil rights and most importantly, rejecting special interest politics. Unabashed threats. Corrupted process. Anything to stay in power.
It begs the question: What do those loyal contributors get G what have they gotten -- by playing along and keeping the contributions to the Republicans? Whatever it is, it canGt be good for most of us.
I personally abhor Tom Davis, because he was the originator of the scurrilous claim that anyone who questions the war in Iraq is a traitor. Tom Davis now believes that 60% of Americans are traitors, but I digress.
I've never seen a more blatant abuse of power, but maybe you have. Feel free to share in the comments, and while you're at it, throw some love to Andy Hurst who's election would kick Tom Davis to the curb.
Did Chris Matthews get Davis and Reynolds mixed up?