Al Franken Ad Calls Out Congressional Revolving Door to K-Street
By Bill W. Wednesday Jul 09, 2008 9:00pmNorm Coleman sides with union-busters, while Al Franken sides with hard-working Minnesotans. Meanwhile, Franken releases a new ad that actually blew my mind with an overwhelmingly simple message - very worth the thirty seconds to watch:
Franken: In Washington they debate whether former members of Congress should wait one year or two years before they can become registered lobbyists. How about never? Right now hundreds of former Senators and Congressmen are lobbying for big oil and special interests. No wonder gas is at $4 a gallon. ...
"No wonder" is right. Franken's vow to work to change the rules to prevent members of Congress from ever becoming lobbyists is one other Democrats would do well to emulate.
A 2005 study by Public Citizen found that 43% of Senators and Representatives who left office since 1998 went on to become lobbyists, and that was well before likes of ex-House Speaker Dennis Hastert and ex-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott abandoned their elected offices before their terms expired to join their ranks. Instead of running for office to serve their country and the public good, politicians (53% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats) increasingly have instead (ab)used their offices as a stepping-stone so they can cash in, and it's no secret we all suffer for it.
Al Frankin for VP! (Just kidding - sort of.)
good luck with that bill Al!
he's throwing everything he can at Coleman.
it's going to be a hell of a battle here in MN.
Trent Lott is the most recent example of that. Billy Touzin is probably the worst offender. He rammed through a big pharma bill in his last year in Congress, then went on to be the head of lobbying for big pharma. Stealing millions from the the people, via Medicare, etc.,
I have an idea, and I don't know where it ever came from: Enact that law forbidding Represenativies and Senators from ever being lobbyists and make it retroactive to 1990.
Perfect. Way to go, AL....we love ya!
Great idea! I love this guy! (Always have, really.) --MaryK
Saint Augustine @ 4:
i agree with that.
It's really sad for Minnesota that Norm Coleman is sitting in Paul Wellstone's Senate seat.
going from an elected official is just
like a married man with a whore on the side.
except in this case the congressmen who leave
office are the whores.
To me, this is really the root of all evil. With such large numbers of these guys cashing in at the end of their "public service", there is no way they can be focused on what's best for the country.
Take this money out of the equation and let the policy debates focus on the best ways to solve these other problems. The system we have now virtually guarantees a corrupt process.
Hurray for Al.
My Former Congressman (R) is now a lobbyist.
Although the (R) stands for Republican, it could just as easily stand for Copyright.
I love Al Franken. What's up with Ventura threatening to enter the race, presumably to ensure Coleman's re-election? Here's hoping Ventura stays away and Franken crushes the little toad incumbent.
@12 raker -
Ventura's gotta decide by Tuesday - that's the filing deadline.
That's the best info I could find.
Franken has got it right, but the DNC, the DSC and the DCCC will hardly go all out for him to support his candidacy, especially when their future earnings are threatened.
Saint Augustine @ 4:
I think it came from a dictator, that's where most ex post facto laws come from...
The revolving door is part of the problem. Another problem is the huge amounts of cash that lobbyist's clients spend on the electoral process. If it wasn't for their cash, elected officials wouldn't give these people the time of day.
We've got the worst government that money can buy.
Franken has had a rough go of it so far, even against a shitheel like Coleman. But I think he would set a ethical standard never seen in the Capitol building.
On the surface I like this. It would give the people another check and balance in which we desperately need.
How about outlawing lobbying, period. People from all kinds of groups should be allowed to go before both houses and speak their wishes and then leave. Let the elected members take what ever they say into consideration and vote accordingly. No gifts, no money.
I live in IL. and send a few bucks to Al because I want to see him succeed, he's exactly the kind of person we need more of in government.
He is taking on the slime machine in Coleman but I think he can win. Democrats have 8 years of Republican failure yoking all their opponents, which gives a neophyte a real advantage
How about that. I wonder if he feels the same about AIPAC?
The simple justice and clearheadedness of the proposal means it would either be buried in some musty committee or struck down by the Bush legacy SCOTUS.
Although Franken's proposal is well-intentioned, it's naive, draconian, and counter-productive. If Senators and Representatives could never become lobbyists, many bright, hard-working people would likely shy away from serving in Congress at all. Government service should not be a forced lifetime endeavor. This isn't the former Soviet Union. The problem of corruption and cronyism resulting from the Washington revolving door, which Franklin correctly identifies, could be solved by extending the lobbyist waiting period by some sensible amount, for example, to 5 years or more.
Someone proposed an amendment to one of those "Preserve The Sanctity of Marriage" laws that have been so popular recently.
The amendment would have prohibited divorced persons from holding public office.
It failed, of course.
Franken's proposal has just about as much chance of passing Congress.
At least someone is trying
C'mon Minnesotans...you're smarter and more sophisticated than
the typical lazy, American idol worshipping idiot.
This guy is genuine and he's a genius.
Vote him in.
Excellent spot !
I seriously think Franken would vastly raise the bar for not only the Senate, but for Minnesota.
Let's just outlaw profiteering on public funds, and the we're set.
And, could someone like Al Franken move down here to Houston and give US hope?
"Instead of running for office to serve their country and the public good, politicians (53% of Republicans and 33% of Democrats) increasingly have instead (ab)used their offices as a stepping-stone so they can cash in, and it’s no secret we all suffer for it. "
This is very true, and it seems that many of them also "cash in" while in office and when running for reelection. They propose and pass legislation that they have actually allowed the lobbyists to write.
#23 above said something about Franken's idea being draconian, as intelligent, creative young people would never consider "serving" in government if it were a forced, lifetime commitment. As if there is no life after government service besides being a corporate criminal shill lobbyist? Why not get a real job in industry (if any are left after the next few years) or become a teacher, or an entrepreneur and solve our energy problems???
How about term limits for Congress too?
Couldn't hurt.
Media Concepts @ 23:
This doesn't make sense. You seem to be suggesting that the only possible career for an ex-Congressman is to be a lobbyist. That's hardly true: many of them had careers outside of politics at one point (lawyer, doctor, exterminator) which they could return to, they could hit the lecture circuit, they could go into business (cf Al Gore), or they could serve on the Boards of these companies without being actual lobbyists. There are plenty of other ways they can cash in on their Congressional stint, not to mention the possibility of just staying in Congress (a path chosen by many, when they can manage it).
What am I missing?
If Senators and Representatives could never become lobbyists, many bright, hard-working people would likely shy away from serving in Congress at all.
Those kind of hard-working Congresspeople, we can do without. I'm sure there will be no shortage of other hard-working people, who don't feel the need to be lobbyists afterward, to fill the spots.
Media Concepts @ 23:
I'm sorry, But Politicians should be banned from being Lobbyists. period. You don't see a conflict of interests here? Theres more lobbyists in DC than there are politicians.
What's that tell ya?
Politicians should be banned for life from becoming lobbyists.
Politicians who were CEOs or VP in major cooperation should be banned from running for office unless they haven't worked for such cooperation for 10 years. (Dick Chenney)
Media Concepts @ 23:
Wow. That says it all, doesn't it? "If'n ya don't promise 'em a big pay day, why would they want to do it?"
"Many would likely shy away?" Oh, my goodness! Where in a nation of 300 million will we ever find 535 bright, hard-working, ethical people?
Guess what. The world is is full of bright, hard-working people who can't be bought for a miserly pittance. I'd happily serve in the Congress for board, a modest per diem, health care coverage at exactly the median of the average citizen, Social Security, and a furnished room in the underground Congressional jail within verbal range of all the Contemptible Bushians.
Cripes.
Lobbyists should be banned! Politicians should be listening to the populace. Where is OUR lobby? Who lobbies for the sick? Who lobbies for the poor? The elderly? Greedy corporate bastards have taken over our country and our government.
Bill W. Said:
Silly wabbit. Democrats only know how to emulate Republicans.
.
I agree with Al on this one. These bastards are diving into K Stree like they are crazy and they are just selling this country down the toilet.
How sad.
Media Concepts @ 23:
Cry me a river. If you can't cash in, they why should you become a Representative or Senator? Uh, let me think. I know it has something to do with public service. I don't want a doctor who's in it for megabucks and I don't want a member of Congress who is just waiting to cash in, whether that wait is 1 year or 5.
Isn't this a little like asking Congress to lower their salaries? What are the odds this would ever pass?
It’s a very informative and straightforward ad. Nutritious as oatmeal.
The ad that’s currently running in support of Coleman is both clever and scary.
Does clever and scary top oatmeal? You tell me.
The real value of proposals like Franken's is their potential as progressive organizing positions and as relentless goads for poking political porkers.
Just came back from doing errands, gas is 4.35 in my area.
People are buying wood stoves to heat their homes this winter so they can buy gas for their cars.
"Somethings gotta change." That ought to be Franken's campaign theme
Great ad, and I love Al, but he doesn't stand a chance in a red state like Minnesota.
Jesse Ventura needs to run for Senate and STOP the corruption in CONgress.
Expose these "special interest" politicians and make them shake in their triple-digit shoes.
F*ck the two-party dictatorship system. Two sides of the same coin.
expo @45,
Jesse Ventura is a republican. As governor, what did he do that was so great? Al Franken actually represents the "commonman" issues the phony Ventura claimed to represent. But I'm sure the toothless imbeciles that make up the wrestling crowd would be happy to vote for Jesse again.
Sailor @44,
I didn't know Minnesota was a red state? When was the last time they voted repuke in a presidential election?
Nonetheless, I find it disturbing that a Bush coke-sucker like Coleman is ahead in the polls at this point. WTF is going on in Minnesota?
I agree with Al on this one and would go one step further in outlawing lobbyist altogether. Corporate lobbyist have bought our government and our representatives of both parties which has brought corporate control and in any other country would be called what it is - facism.
We the People need to take our government away from the corporations and the first step is to outlaw lobbyist. Period!
"I didn’t know Minnesota was a red state? When was the last time they voted repuke in a presidential election?"
Better question: When was the last time we had a Democratic Governor? Search "Minnesota Governors" on Wikipedia:
Party Governors
Republican/Independent-Republican 26
Democratic-Farmer-Labor 5
Democratic 4
Farmer-Labor 3
Reform/Independence 1
Another example of why people who have been away from their state for 35 years shouldn't get people from outside the state to fund their campaigns.
I haven't thought Franken was the right person from the start but a weird thing he can't do anything about is that Minnesotans seem to have this Yin-Yang thing going where they elect one senator from each party. I guess to keep an eye on each other. Since we already have a Democrat in Klobuchar (Sort of. The little weasel do love her some FISA. See: http://www.minnesotaindependent.com/view/senate-fisa-vote), Al has some bizarre Minnesota mindset thing to overcome. We can be "above average" and yet throw Lutheran caution to wind by voting for TWO Democrats!
Minnesota is like many states that are split down the middle demographically between rural and urban. Lot of Republicans outside the beltway the Franken neo-McGovernites never see. It's pretty easy to start in Wisconsin and drive west to North Dakota or South Dakota and never enter a blue county. Harder South to North when you get up toward Canada but it can be done.
Unless they are convicted of ethics violations while in Congress, why on Earth should ex-members not be permitted to be lobbyists? While sleazy, lobbying is a perfectly legal profession. What other fields should ex-members be prohibited from entering? It isn't the lobbyists who are necessarily the problem. It's the current members of Congress who are the problem. Rather than limiting who can be a lobbtist, perhaps Congress should limit lobbyists access to policy making.
Nothing will change in the House till we demand It!
http://www.thirty-thousand.org