Comment from Boehner, can anybody explain this to me?

[karlrschneider]

He said "If it weren't for lobbyists, the legislative process couldn't work." (That is verbatim)

WTF is he trying to say here?
:eyes:

[abbiehoff]

1. I think he's saying that he wouldn't know how to vote

if the lobbyists weren't there to tell him.

Also, he probably wouldn't make enough money to make public service worth his while.

[Sydnie]

2. "Nobody would do this for the salary we get"?

:shrug: I didn't watch him, but I am guessing that they need the lobbyists to educate them on the different issues, otherwise there would be no time to write or pass legislation because they would have to spend their time learning about it first?

Seems I heard someone from that side say something along those lines recently.

[benddem]

3. because he is so

busy with his tanning and golf game he wouldn't have time to write legislation. Hence we need lobbyists to do that. Actually I think we need lobbyists...Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and lots of organizations I support have them...we just need to get the money out of it. They can tell me there is no quid pro quo till hell freezes over but there is.

[karlrschneider]

5. Sure, I see your point but aren't constituents supposed to do that?

I write tons of letters to these bastards that don't seem to do any good. Maybe I have to put a C-note in the envelope with the letter.
:grr:

[BlueEyedSon]

4. "Big biz wouldn't get all the handouts they do without them bribing us."

See, it all depends on your definition of "legislative process."

[annabanana]

6. this seems to be the operative attitude in DC. . . eom

[seriousstan]

7. I understand the reasoning behind lobbyists, but not what they have become

A lobbyist SHOULD be a person presenting a case for action and supporting that case with facts and examples. Say a group wants a stop light at an intersection. They lobby for the light, explain why it is needed, show statistics showing need and show where stop lights at other intersections have solved similar problems.

They are not this any more. Now they are cash carriers. They more the cash, the better their case.

I blame both the lobbyists and the elected officials for this change. If they couldn't be bought, nobody would try.