Yup! As usual, the dems in congress lept before they looked.
Recent reporting has brought to light one example of Enron's successful control of elections.
Brody Mullins in Congress Daily has demonstrated that Kenneth Lay recruited Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to challenge former Rep. Craig Washington in 1994.* Lay took issue with Washington's vote against NAFTA and sought to replace him with someone more sympathetic to his "free trade" principles. According to Mullins, "Enron and its employees pumped $24,000 into Jackson Lee's campaign, helping her raise nearly $600,000-three times as much as Washington raised for his previous reelection." The result was an overwhelming victory for Jackson Lee in the Democratic primary and an easy win in the general election. This is a perfect example of how large, early hard money contributions are decisive in most elections.
Representative Jackson Lee might never have granted any access to any Enron lobbyist, or returned a single phone call. However, as a result of their political contributions, Enron was able to change the vote of the 18th district of Texas from an anti-NAFTA position to a pro-NAFTA position. Their money did buy the result they wanted, even though there may never have been a quid pro quo with Representative Jackson Lee.