At Congress' 'favor factory,' revolving door keeps spinning

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/atcongressfavorfactoryrevolvingdoorkeepsspinning


At Congress' 'favor factory,' revolving door keeps spinning

2 hours, 48 minutes ago

Congressional aide Letitia White whirled through the revolving door one day in 2003 and came out a partner in a well-connected lobbying firm the next. Within two years, her lobbying fees had topped $3.5 million.


The secret to success for the one-time congressional receptionist?

White's last job on Capitol Hill was as a top aide to Rep. Jerry Lewis (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., now chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, which disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff used to call the "favor factory." As a lobbyist, White became adept at getting her clients "earmarks" - government funds directed by lawmakers to specific projects or specific contractors.

In a Congress better known for corruption than legislating, earmarks are one of the seamiest parts of a broken process. Lobbyists channel campaign funds from their clients to lawmakers. And lawmakers earmark money to projects that benefit those clients.

The losers are companies that refuse to "pay to play" and the public, which gets stuck with the bills.