Today's Washington Post has an article about two lobbyists. Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon (with ties to Tom Delay naturally) who were taking money from an Indian tribe to protect their El Paso, TX casino at the same time they (the lobbyists) were paying Ralph Reed to pressure the state to shut down the casino. As it happens, the casino never reopened. So the lobbyists made a $4.2 million fee and as for the casino employees?
"Days later, on Feb. 19, Scanlon sent Abramoff an El Paso Times news story headlined "450 casino employees officially terminated" with the message: 'This is on the front page of todays paper while they will be voting on our plan!'
'Is life great or what!!!" responded Abramoff"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50258-2004Sep25.html