CAleftist
10th October 2011, 06:08
Sixty-six former aides to lawmakers serving on a congressional panel charged with finding ways to slash the federal deficit have represented powerful defense and health care industries that face colossal cuts in government spending, a new analysis shows.
Thirty-four ex-aides to members of the deficit-cutting "supercommittee" have lobbied on behalf of hospitals, drugmakers and other health care industries, according to a tally of congressional lobbying data through June prepared for USA TODAY by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. Four have worked as registered lobbyists on behalf of defense companies. An additional 28 have lobbied for both sectors.
That adds up to about 60% of the 109 current and former federal lobbyists who have worked for panel members.
"The reason that special interests hire former aides is the perception that they have access," said Bill Allison of the non-partisan Sunlight Foundation, which has called for greater transparency into the inner workings of the deficit supercommittee.
As the 12-member panel weighs how to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the deficit over 10 years, "it's not clear who's advocating for the citizens' interests," Allison said.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lobbyists-work-lawmakers-deficit-panel/story?id=14702099
Who are they trying to fool?
Thirty-four ex-aides to members of the deficit-cutting "supercommittee" have lobbied on behalf of hospitals, drugmakers and other health care industries, according to a tally of congressional lobbying data through June prepared for USA TODAY by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. Four have worked as registered lobbyists on behalf of defense companies. An additional 28 have lobbied for both sectors.
That adds up to about 60% of the 109 current and former federal lobbyists who have worked for panel members.
"The reason that special interests hire former aides is the perception that they have access," said Bill Allison of the non-partisan Sunlight Foundation, which has called for greater transparency into the inner workings of the deficit supercommittee.
As the 12-member panel weighs how to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the deficit over 10 years, "it's not clear who's advocating for the citizens' interests," Allison said.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lobbyists-work-lawmakers-deficit-panel/story?id=14702099
Who are they trying to fool?