(Why you sloppy arrogant corporate puppet, you.)
Florida Rep. Rachel Burgin (forgot to remove ALEC’s mission statement from a bill. The bill calls on the federal government to reduce taxes for corporations (HM 685).
SarahLee: Sorry, you got caught!
The next day, Rep. Burgin quickly withdrew the bill hoping that no one had noticed and then re-introduced it 24-hours later, with a new bill number (HM 717), but now without the problematic paragraph. Nobody seems to have noticed until now.
It’s… it’s almost like lobbyists are writing the laws to serve their own interests! Oh my god! Has anyone heard about this???????????? Somebody tell Congress that they’re just figureheads for corporate interests! Somebody tell their constituents that they don’t give two shits about their sad little lives! ALERT THE MEDIA!
Well shit I’d love to be able to write my own laws.
Rick Scott’s wife does! How did that happen? Oh, Rick Scott transferred ownership of all of that to her before he got to be governor. Convenient, huh? You know, wouldn’t want to have a conflict of interest or anything while you’re trying to suck 50 bucks a pop out of poor people seeking benefits. Nothing conflicty or odd about that, right?
And hey, if there does seem to be something fishy about it, just plead the fifth a record number of times. It’s cool, Florida likes it’s politicians crooked.
Always follow the money…
How is this legal? Conflict of interest, anyone?
The Florida courts have already ruled that this is completely legal.
Florida sucks. I’m sorry if you live there and you enjoy it, but seriously first they cost us the 2000 election and now they allow politicians to push for legislation that directly adds to their immediate family’s income? GTFO.
Rick Scott’s wife does! How did that happen? Oh, Rick Scott transferred ownership of all of that to her before he got to be governor. Convenient, huh? You know, wouldn’t want to have a conflict of interest or anything while you’re trying to suck 50 bucks a pop out of poor people seeking benefits. Nothing conflicty or odd about that, right?
And hey, if there does seem to be something fishy about it, just plead the fifth a record number of times. It’s cool, Florida likes it’s politicians crooked.
Always follow the money…
How is this legal? Conflict of interest, anyone?
What’s happening in Wisconsin is, instead, a power grab — an attempt to exploit the fiscal crisis to destroy the last major counterweight to the political power of corporations and the wealthy. And the power grab goes beyond union-busting. The bill in question is 144 pages long, and there are some extraordinary things hidden deep inside.
For example, the bill includes language that would allow officials appointed by the governor to make sweeping cuts in health coverage for low-income families without having to go through the normal legislative process.
And then there’s this: “Notwithstanding ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.705 (1), the department may sell any state-owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or without solicitation of bids, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. Notwithstanding ss. 196.49 and 196.80, no approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary for a public utility to purchase, or contract for the operation of, such a plant, and any such purchase is considered to be in the public interest and to comply with the criteria for certification of a project under s. 196.49 (3) (b).”
What’s that about? The state of Wisconsin owns a number of plants supplying heating, cooling, and electricity to state-run facilities (like the University of Wisconsin). The language in the budget bill would, in effect, let the governor privatize any or all of these facilities at whim. Not only that, he could sell them, without taking bids, to anyone he chooses. And note that any such sale would, by definition, be “considered to be in the public interest.”
If this sounds to you like a perfect setup for cronyism and profiteering — remember those missing billions in Iraq? — you’re not alone. Indeed, there are enough suspicious minds out there that Koch Industries, owned by the billionaire brothers who are playing such a large role in Mr. Walker’s anti-union push, felt compelled to issue a denial that it’s interested in purchasing any of those power plants. Are you reassured?
-Paul Krugman (via blissandzen)
No words.
AUSTIN, Texas — A judge ordered former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to serve three years in prison Monday for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.
The sentence comes after a jury in November convicted DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. DeLay was once one of the most powerful men in U.S. politics, ascending to the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives.
“Dancing with the Felons”, on ABC this Fall!
(Source: liberalsarecool)
