and the bonding and lending that goes on behind closed doors. If Rep. Waters wants to, she can make housing a very sexy issue.

In Fla., the total dollar volume is probably in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars. That would mean maybe $10 to $20 billion nationwide.

That's not to say all of is misspent - there are many worthwhile projects and many ethical agencies administering them. But almost all of both are Republican backed. And from what we've seen so far, Republicans view corruption as "special features" like tile floors and granite counters.