WASHINGTON - Washington’s political money men, and women, have begun
their seduction of the 112th Congress’ freshmen members, and they didn’t
even wait for those members to take office. Politico today reports that
a lavish fundraiser with tickets going for as much as $50,000 per
package, will be held tonight at the posh W Hotel in Washington DC to
benefit a dozen Republican House members.

“Special interests see this as prime time to spend big and buy access
and influence to new lawmakers who they will later call on for
legislation and policies that benefit their bottom lines, not ours,”
said Common Cause President Bob Edgar. “This is exactly what Americans
are furious about, and should be. These new members of Congress should
remember that they were elected to serve the public interest – not the
interest of lobbyists who buy $50,000 tickets – and the public will be
watching.

“This cycle will be repeated over and over again, regardless of which
party is in power, unless we change the way we pay for political
campaigns,” Edgar said. “We need to get special interests out of the
business of funding our elected officials.”