Influence-peddling

[OutofDate1980]

Jack Abramoff's influence-peddling scheme is back. arty:

Congress made a show to limit this scheme in 2007 after lobbyist Jack Abramoff's influence-peddling scandal, but left a big loop hole. All the lobbyist have to do is create a nonprofit and its business as usual.

U.S. lawmakers travel the world on lobbyists' tab | Reuters

"Ethics advocates argue that such trips let private groups give members of Congress an earful about their policy positions and that many lawmakers may feel indebted after a week of free food, hotels, tours and transportation.

Bill Allison, editorial director of the Sunlight Foundation, a group which advocates government openness, said the best arrangement would be to conduct all lawmaker travel "on the taxpayer's dime."

"It really doesn't accomplish the purpose of a fact-finding mission if the facts are being presented by a group with a specific viewpoint," Allison added."

 

[SiempreTuna]

Don't get me started

Over here in the UK, the government has made a lot of noise about introducing 'controls' on lobbying .. turns out the exclusions to these rules include ALL the current lobbyists :shot:

 

[OutofDate1980]

Solicit donations for charity, use money for your diamond mine, pay off politicians. Same old, same old.:bebored:

Mission Congo: how Pat Robertson raised millions on the back of a non-existent aid project | Film | theguardian.com

"Robertson's activities in Congo were initially exposed by a Virginia newspaper, the Virginian Pilot, in the 1990s. The investigation by Bill Sizemore prompted the attorney general in Virginia, where Operation Blessing is registered, to order a probe by the state's office of consumer affairs.

Its report concluded that Robertson made "fraudulent and deceptive" statements with claims to be ferrying doctors and medical aid to Goma when he was delivering diamond-mining equipment. It accused Operation Blessing of "misrepresenting" what its flights were doing, and of saying that the airstrip at Kamonia was part of the aid operation when it was "for the benefit of ADC's mining operation".

It also said Robertson had falsely portrayed the Dumi farm as hugely successful when it had already failed.

"Pat Robertson made material claims, via television appeals, regarding the relief efforts. These statements are refuted by the evidence in this case," the report said.

But the Virginian authorities declined to prosecute Robertson, describing his misrepresentations as a "blemish". Mission Congo notes that leading state politicians were recipients of large donations from Robertson."