[Just in case my last post was too subtle: America has a 'Welfare' Problem ... let me be clear.]
America has a 'Lobbyist' problem ... It's why Congress is broken. It's why our country is failing to meet our future challenges. Challenges that will only get MORE FREQUENT, and MORE IMPACTFUL as the hidden costs of Carbon-fuel progress, continue to take their long-term Tolls.
Paying these back-loaded 'Tolls' are a pain -- just ask New York, just ask New Jersey.
[more Toll-taking by Hurricane Sandy.]
Just ask the drought-striken farmers and ranchers.
[the Heat Wave of 2011: ]
larger CNN Link
Climate Change Paybacks are a royal pain in the pocket. Get ready for more.
And we can all thank these guys ... for those future pains, already in the pipeline.
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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Dear Congressperson,
Koch Industries may pay your bills, but Koch Industries DID not Vote you into Office.
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Dear Congressperson,
Koch Industries may have Bills they want you to Block, but Koch Industries DID not Vote you into Office.
Dear 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
Dear 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
Larger link
... 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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Dear 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 ... something that we could do about this $17 million Bribery.
Sadly Good Old Oily-Joe, is NOT alone in his "professional" graft.
"Hey, if they're stupid enough to pay it, eh? I'd be a 'fool' not to take it."
... so goes the rationale.
There Ought to be a Law or something ...
Because that Climate Change Payback IS going to be a Royal form of personal wealth destruction -- for many decades to come:
For as far as us poor, hapless citizens can see.
As long as Lobbyists continue to buy their Old Energy way, with Congresspersons, who are supposed to represent US. And our well-being. And our futures ... and the futures of OUR kids.