http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703630404575053330978667138.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
OPINION FEBRUARY 8, 2010, 6:59 P.M. ET
How the Plaintiffs Bar Bought the Senate
Citizens Unitedmight break its political stranglehold.
By JAMES R. COPLAND
The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission to permit independent campaign expenditures by corporations has led to a good deal of hysteria about money and influence in politics.
But for those, like me, who view factions as inherent in democracy, the decision was welcome. Labyrinthine campaign-finance laws serve mainly to entrench incumbents and empower those special interests either exempted from regulation (i.e., the institutional media) or best able to navigate the maze of rules. Among the latter group, no lobby has been more empowered than the legal profession—specifically the trial lawyers.
SNIP
Since 1990, the sums donated to federal political candidates by lawyers—excluding lobbyists—exceed $1 billion, according to CRP. Lawyers as a group have given more to federal candidates than any other industry or profession. Their ability to keep tort reform out of the health-care reform bills is unsurprising: Congressional campaign contributions by lawyers in the last election cycle were about $25 million more than the combined total of political donations from doctors, pharmaceutical companies, HMOs, hospitals and nursing homes.
How Trial Lawyers Bought the Senate
Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by carpro, Feb 11, 2010.
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Don't worry. Thanks to the Bush Supreme Court the ChiComs can now out spend the trial lawyers.
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And that as a result they ended up with more advanced missles?
From the transfer of U.S. technology?
That Clinton allowed?
You do know that don't you?
Also you are wrong on the law on this point.
You do know that too don't you? -
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Pretty amazing! I haven't heard democrats crying about how to stop the lawyers.
Or did I just miss it?:smilewinkgrin: -
I'm a Libertarian and are not responsible for any decisions made by Democrats.
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No, I did not vote Libertarian this time. Voting Libertarian for the office of president is throwing one's vote away. Generally this doesn't matter but I thought dumping Bush was so important that I voted for Obama. Still glad I did.
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