Stop The Fat Cats

I wish they would pass a law where all Democrats and Republicans had to wear NASCAR racing suits, because if you look at the NASCAR drivers, it tells who their sponsors are. And if they do that, we could then become informed voters, because we would know who owns them." – Jesse Ventura

Fat Cats, lobbyists, influence peddlers, there are many names for them but they all do the same thing. They cozy up to politicians with big donations and free banquet steaks with the sole goal of getting the politician to do what is best for their special interests, regardless of how it affects the tax payers. Doesn’t sound right does it? Sounds corrupt, seems like bribery. Well if it looks like a duck walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Yet it’s been going on forever and keeps on going. Why? Simple, because It benefits  the  people who have the power to outlaw it. Lobbyists thrive because they are effective and politicians keep them around for the attention, the free meals and most importantly, the well-being of their campaign war chests.

I don’t recall the source but I recently read a quote that said, "People run for political office for one of two reasons – To do something or to be somebody." I agree, but unfortunately many who run for the first reason eventually stay in office too long because of the second reason. There original intent was noble but over time they rise up and become somebody's who become beholden to the Fat Cats. It doesn’t just happen in Washington DC; it goes on in New Hampshire too and may include Senate District 11.

At times, Sen. Peter Bragdon’s actions contradict his self-proclaimed conservative philosophies. I believe the Peter Bragdon, who first ran for Senate in 2002, would not have co-sponsored and voted for the Cap and Trade, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (R.G.G.I) HB 1434, which has cost rate payers hundreds of million dollars in increased fees, while allowing  Public Service Of NH (PSNH) to receive 7.6 million dollars in grants from the initiative. He also wouldn’t have refused to repeal R.G.G.I. when citizens mounted a public outcry due to the increased rates. He sure wouldn’t have killed SB150, which would have allowed individuals and small businesses to purchase healthcare benefits outside of New Hampshire, and he definitely would not have refused to put the Right To Work bill to a vote. In 2002, Peter Bragdon had not taken any special interest donations. Since then he has taken tens of thousands of dollars from special interest donors, which have  included money from PSNH, Healthcare Professionals and Unions. There may be many reasons why some of his votes are more in line with a Washington DC Democrat than with a conservative citizen legislator from NH, but one can’t help but wonder how much the donations influence his votes. Only Senator Bragdon  knows for sure, but if he didn’t take the special interest  money no one would have to wonder, and at least we could be sure that his votes were his and his alone.

We need to say enough is enough and stop the Fat Cats, by voting in citizen legislators who are only beholden to the voters. Sept. 11 is a good day to start.