Posted on 04/09/2016 8:46:39 AM PDT by all the best
Every election cycle, U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie said he is “extorted” by the Republican Party to pay $300,000 for his committee assignments.
“I call it extortion, they call it assessments,” he said.
These “assessments,” essentially dues to the Republican party, are fundraised through political action committees and lobbyists as a price to pay for committee positions, Massie told a crowd of about 25 during a recent coffee and pizza forum in Flatwoods.
He told them, “I can’t go and do a fundraiser and raise $300,000 and stand up in front of people and tell them, ‘Well, you know what? It’s not really about the election. I need the money to buy a committee seat.’”…
News of committee seat price tags is not new. National Public Radio reported on the issue in 2012, but many seem to have forgotten or are apathetic to the situation, Massie said.
“People know about this, sometimes it becomes an issue…. but it just doesn’t get enough people mad enough…..It just doesn’t have enough interest for people,” Massie said…
“I don’t want to give you the impression committee seats are for sale,” Massie said. “They’re for rent.”
(Excerpt) Read more at eaglerising.com ...
Bribery and corruption in Washington.
No surprise.
The Founders would have been appalled, but the pols have long since disgraced our heritage.
Wonder how much Ted paid to get these assignments?
NOT ME!
I just found out today researching the Indiana delegate process that each delegate has to agree to put up $2,000 of their own money up front to be a delegate. Pay to play at every level. Time to start changing politics from the bottom up, not the top down. There is still time while we still are breathing.
well done!!
If this got reported as the way that the French assembly did business, there would be a public prosecutor involved and folks would go to jail in France. Sadly, in the US...people just look that other way.
Just another reason why they all need to limit their time in DC to six months out of the year.
Nice post, BUMP!
I see my bound “Trump” delegate to the convention is the local GOP county chair. Shouldn’t be a surprise the GOPe are working them over already.
bump for later
"Pard'ner, I'm a consistent conservative.
I consistently take establishment money. Deal with it!"
I’m not sure anything the French do can be used as an example. They don’t even have freedom of speech. Whatever they’re doing, it isn’t working.
“... Congressman Thomas Massie said he is “extorted” by the Republican Party to pay $300,000 for his committee assignments...”
Congressional salary= $174,000.00
Money floats around in Washington like leaves a lake in the fall....
One thing this election has really done is uncover the inner workings of the machine. Next go-around (if there is a next), we all have to get involved at the local level. I’ve never really even been curious up to this point about politics at the committee level, but that is where the game is played. I’ll know better in two years! I’ve heard it said “all politics is local.” This election is proving that.
With all due respect to Rep. Massie, at least some of the Republican committee assignments that he has to pay to participate in deal with issues that the states have never delegated to the feds, expressly via the Constitution, the specific power to address, healthcare and environmental issues for example.
Thomas Massie committee assignments
Congressional salary= $174,000.00
Money floats around in Washington like leaves a lake in the fall...
So many lawyers who could pull down half a million a year without breaking a sweat are eager to have that $174K job...and become fabulously wealthy after they get it. Wonder how? < /sarc >
DESTROY THE GOPe!
You mean the people reporting it would go to jail right?
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