Laws.
We elect fellow Citizens to perform an important Public Service -- to Represent OUR Best Interests; to work on passing Legislation that best meets the Goals and Needs, of those who voted them into office.
Funny, how so rarely, does it actually work out that way, in real life -- in the Hustle-Bustle of the DC Beltway.
In that rarefied air, other factors come into play, that the "fellow citizens" back home, simply just would NOT understand.
In DC, it's not Wall Street, or Main Street that matters most -- It's K-Street ...
Any Career-minded politician learns those Facts, of DC Life -- real quick.
K-Street (located in Washington DC) is where the Lobbyists reside. Lobbyists who Represent their OWN well-funded Business Interests. Lobbyists who twist arms, give gifts, and otherwise "assist" the Citizen Representatives in how to "best" perform their "Public Service".
Lobbyists will even help them write that Pesky Legislation -- assuming they got caught up on the Golf Course, or the Dinner Party circuit, one too many times last week.
For the most part, the K-Street System works -- For the Lobbyists and their Billionaire Clients, that is.
Not so much, for us average Citizens -- who are expecting our Congressional Reps to actually Do the People's Business.
It's a quaint idea, I know, Doing the People's Business. But if we are ever to get a truly Representative Form of Government again -- it is an Idea that we MUST keep insisting on ...
Congress persons, we sent you to DC -- to Do the People's Business!
To Make Laws for Us.
and NOT to Do the Business of K-Street. Psst. WE elected you, not Them, by the way.
Not These Guys ...
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Congressperson,
Koch Industries may pay your bills, but Koch Industries DID not Vote you into Office.
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Congressperson,
Koch Industries may have Bills they want you to Block, but Koch Industries DID not Vote you into Office.
Congressperson,
Yes, Koch Industry has a very specific "Wish List" drawn up by their teams of Lawyers, and their Contacts on K-Street ... but Koch Industries DID not Vote you into Office.
Yes, Koch has "their issues" with far too many of The People's Bills -- that's their Problem, NOT YOURS ... (not OURS either, unless you make it so.)
Specific Issues Reports for H.R.2454 by Koch Industries, 2010
Content of Specific Issue
H.R. 2454,
American Clean Energy and Security Act, entire bill
S.J. RES. 26,
Disapproving a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the endangerment finding and the cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act, entire bill
H.R. 1787,
Low Carbon Fuels Standard Act of 2009, entire bill
S. 3072,
Stationary Source Regulations Delay Act, entire bill
H.R. 5644,
End Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act of 2010, entire bill
S. 1733,
Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act, entire bill
S. 1095,
America's Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Act of 2009, entire bill
S. 1622,
Clean Air Protection Act, entire bill
American Power Act, Discussion Draft
S. 3072,
bill to suspend, during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, any Environmental Protection Agency action under the Clean Air Act with respect to carbon dioxide or methane pursuant to certain proceedings, other than with respect to motor vehicle emissions, and for other purposes, entire bill
H.J. RES.77,
Disapproving a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the endangerment finding and the cause or contribute findings for greenhouse gases under section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act, entire bill
H.R. 4572,
To amend the Clean Air Act relating to greenhouse gases, and for other purposes, entire bill
H.R. 391,
To amend the Clean Air Act to provide that greenhouse gases are not subject to the Act, and for other purposes, entire bill
H.R 4396,
To amend the Clean Air Act to provide that greenhouse gases are not subject to the Act, and for other purposes, entire bill
H.R. 4753,
To suspend, during the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, any Environmental Protection Agency action under the Clean Air Act with respect to carbon dioxide or methane pursuant to certain proceedings, other than with respect to motor vehicle emissions, and for other purposes, entire bill
S. 2877,
Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal (CLEAR) Act, entire bill
H.R. 5820,
Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010 (To amend the Toxic Substance Control Act to ensure that the public and the environment are protected from risks of chemical exposure, and for other purposes) H.R. 5629, Oil Spill Accountability and Environmental Protection Act of 2010, entire bill
H.R. 3534,
Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act of 2009, entire bill
Congressperson,
We get it that Koch Industries, and their Oil Industry cohorts, must acquire more Billions -- No Matter What the ultimate cost to Society turns out to be ... But Voting against Toxic Chemicals Safety ... Really?
Coming out against Ending Billion Dollar Oil Subsidies ... Really?
Does Big Oil really need any more Incentive to keep Gouging us?
Isn't that kind of a Conflict of Interest? Let me see if I got this right ...
The People's Representatives collect 100's of Thousands in Donations ... like these
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... in order to Vote the Interests of their to Big Oil Clients ... like these ...
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Hmmm? "There Ought to be a Law" or something, that would stop this --
Ooops ... "A Law" -- WHAT was I thinking!?
If there were such a law, how in the world could you guys keep performing this obscene Quid-Pro-Quo? Big Oil Subsidies in exchange for your Big Bucks Contributions ...
Shhh! No one will notice. This is how "Business Gets Done In DC". Everybody Does it.
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Congressperson,
Before you know it, if this keeps up you guys will actually Be Apologizing to Big Oil on behalf of the American People.
We all know How Big Oil hates to be Gouged, themselves ... how they hate us Americans "shaking them down" as one Congressperson put it ...
No Apologies: Rep. Barton Defends Tax Breaks For Big Oil
blogs.abcnews.com --March 09, 2011
With oil prices now more than $100 a barrel, gas prices pushing $4 a gallon and oil companies flush in profits, it might be worth asking whether it is time for Congress to scale back tax credits for the oil and gas industry.
The budget President Obama submitted to Congress last month proposed repealing $3.6 billion in oil and gas subsidies – subsidies that come in the form of tax credits – in 2012. The White House estimates that repealing those tax credits would bring in $46 billion in revenue over the next 10 years.
As the oil and gas industry gears up to fight that effort, it has no better friend than Representative Joe Barton (R-TX). Barton made a splash when he apologized to BP CEO Andrew Hayward and called the Obama Administration’s investigation of BP a “shakedown.”
Good Old Joe Barton, he apologized to BP for totally wrecking an entire Eco-system, Joe was sorry us American Citizens expected BP to clean up and pay for their mess. Our Bad, according to this Big Oil Congressman
Well, Joe is about to stand up for his real constituency once again ... you see, he's got some Billion Dollar Oil Subsidies to protect ...
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Well, I suppose Good Old Joe and his Oil Lobby buddies, have their Quid-Pro-Quo Reasons ...
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... about 17 Million of them.
Too bad Good Old Joe Barton, is NOT alone, in his Quid-Pro-Quo K-Street Chicanery
-- and America, and us Americans, are truly "the poorer" for it.
You know, "There Ought to be a Law" or something ...
Shhh! maybe no one will notice. Isn't that right Congresspersons?