Lobbyists pay for access: K Street Dems give voting info to GOP whips

[NewJerseyDem]

http://www.thehill.com/news/062304/lobbyists.aspx

Democratic lobbyists are giving House Republican aides and lawmakers closely held information about the voting intentions of congressional Democrats in exchange for access to private meetings with GOP officials on Capitol Hill.

For House Republican whips, the inside information on Democratic voting strategies can yield a crucial awareness of what the ultimate vote count on the floor might be.

That helps determine how much pressure GOP whips need to apply to their Republican colleagues.

The pressure on Democratic lobbyists to cough up information parallels the K Street Project, which is aimed at putting Republicans in top lobbying posts. Both the K Street Project and the demand for intelligence on Democrats highlight the fact that access comes at a price.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Totally outrageous.

This is the kind of story that the American taxpayer ought to be reading and understanding how the Republican Party "does business". If they think their interests are being represented, they are sadly misinformed.

[oldhat]

2. Oh my fucking God

[dusty64]

3. Outta control!

:kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

4. More abuse of unchecked power --

these are the kinds of things Joe Public doesn't hear about, doesn't understand, or doesn't care about.