Dems Charge GOP Has Corrupted Congress
Sat Jan 7, 2006
Democrats accused Republican congressional leaders of corrupting the
government, claiming on Saturday that their party has higher ethical
standards.
"Under Republican guidance, America has truly been put up for sale to the
highest bidder," Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said in her party's weekly
radio address.
Congress was consumed this week by the corruption scandal around lobbyist
Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty and is cooperating in a wide-ranging probe
that could involve up to 20 members of Congress and their aides.
Politicians from both parties have rushed to unload donations from Abramoff
or his clients, while others have decided to keep such donations, insisting
they did nothing wrong.
Slaughter painted the Abramoff case and an earlier guilty plea by former
Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., as part of a broader pattern of
misconduct by Republicans under the sway of highly paid lobbyists.
"Sadly, the legacy of Republican rule has been the fundamental degradation
of our democratic institutions and the abandonment of our core principles,"
Slaughter said.
"Lobbyists are now writing the bills passed by Congress," she contended.
"They have infiltrated every aspect of our government. Their money and
donations shape the opinions of corrupt lawmakers in a way that public
opinion no longer does."
Slaughter said the unethical influence of lobbyists has affected everything
from the Iraq war to energy policy to the new Medicare prescription drug
plan.
The 10-term congresswoman said her party will "uphold the highest standards
of integrity."
Repeating a Democratic tag line, Slaughter said, "Together, America can do
better."
http://tinyurl.com/89v2y
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060107/ap_on_go_ot/democrats_ethics&printer=1;_ylt=AhfYOFY2ZgDb.0NXsgQnaEh2wPIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
--
The number of uninsured Americans increased by 5 million over the past four
years and the government announced last month that Medicare premiums will
increase in January by a record amount in dollar terms of $11.60 per month.
http://tinyurl.com/5alrj
--
The fair use of a copyrighted work:
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.
.
|
