Colorado’s Rep. Ken Buck is speaking up about the pay-to-play politics in the U.S. House that he says have created a corrupt system where itap “better to sink the nation with debt than rock the boat with reform.”
Buck’s tell-all book “Drain the Swamp,” released this week, isn’t the first to point out the problem of perpetual fundraising by politicians in Washington, but the problem persists.
He says both parties in Congress force their members to pay hefty dues — the GOP charges $220,000 every two years for a “B level” committee and $450,000 for an “A level” committee. So not only are lawmakers continually raising money to support campaigns every two years, but to be on a committee like appropriations, ways and means, or energy and commerce, a member of Congress must raise nearly half a million dollars.
In turn that empowers lobbyists and big donors who can produce that kind of cash for a campaign, he says. Good for Buck for saying something. Maybe his book’s proceeds will help him avoid taking donations from those looking to sway his votes.
If we want truly independent elected officials who represent the best interests of their constituents, we must find a way to sever ties with big money. Doing away with mandatory party or fundraising dues would be a good start.
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