4 Life
06-01-05, 09:03 PM
You've heard the term - You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Here's some great examples of how that works in US Government.
Frederick Webber
Frederick Webber is the former president of the American Chemical Council. In the 1990s Webber criticized President Clinton for issuing executive orders that required federal agencies to stop buying products containing harmful chemicals. In 2000 Webber supported the Bush presidential campaign and became a Pioneer, the name the Bush campaign gives to people who raise at least $100,000 for Bush. Webber raised or contributed $221,000 for Bush and persuaded more than two dozen chemical industry executives to become fundraisers for the candidate.
In 2002 Webber helped form a coalition of two dozen groups to block a bill that would have required chemical companies either to improve security at plants storing large amounts of chemicals or use less dangerous chemicals to cut down on security threats. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study had determined that worst-case terrorist attacks on chemical plants across the country could injure or kill up to one million people.
The Bush administration also opposed the bill. The American Chemistry Council spent more than $80 million in political contributions and lobbying fees between 1995 and 2002 to fight and ultimately to kill the legislation. The EPA had the authority to require action to improve chemical plant security. But the Bush administration transferred that authority to the Department of Homeland Security. It will not routinely inspect plants but will rely on information chemical manufacturers submit voluntarily.
Kenneth Lay
Kenneth Lay is the former chairman of Enron, an energy company that went bust late in 2001 after its questionable financial and accounting practices became public. But in the 1990s when Enron was the darling of Wall Street, Lay became friendly with George W. Bush and contributed or raised $550,000 for Bush's campaigns for governor of Texas and then president of the United States. After Bush became president Enron officials helped to write his energy policy bill, which benefits energy providers. Lay also influenced the federal decision not to impose price caps on California's electricity market during that state's huge energy crisis of 2000-2001. This decision was worth tens of millions to Enron.
Charles Heimbold
In recent years the hugely profitable pharmaceutical industry gave $42 million to George W. Bush and other Republican candidates. The industry is expected to spend as much as $150 million this year lobbying against any government efforts to lower skyrocketing drug prices or to provide a prescription drug benefit to seniors that would cut back industry profits. At one large drug company, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, executives were warned during the 2000 presidential campaign that they would be reported to the company CEO, Charles A. Heimbold Jr., if they did not make maximum donations to the Bush campaign. After Bush became president, Heimbold was appointed ambassador to Sweden. During the 2000 presidential election period, pharmaceutical companies contributed $27 million. Republicans received 69%, Democrats 31%.
So I ask you this - Can we say Campaign Reform??
Frederick Webber
Frederick Webber is the former president of the American Chemical Council. In the 1990s Webber criticized President Clinton for issuing executive orders that required federal agencies to stop buying products containing harmful chemicals. In 2000 Webber supported the Bush presidential campaign and became a Pioneer, the name the Bush campaign gives to people who raise at least $100,000 for Bush. Webber raised or contributed $221,000 for Bush and persuaded more than two dozen chemical industry executives to become fundraisers for the candidate.
In 2002 Webber helped form a coalition of two dozen groups to block a bill that would have required chemical companies either to improve security at plants storing large amounts of chemicals or use less dangerous chemicals to cut down on security threats. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study had determined that worst-case terrorist attacks on chemical plants across the country could injure or kill up to one million people.
The Bush administration also opposed the bill. The American Chemistry Council spent more than $80 million in political contributions and lobbying fees between 1995 and 2002 to fight and ultimately to kill the legislation. The EPA had the authority to require action to improve chemical plant security. But the Bush administration transferred that authority to the Department of Homeland Security. It will not routinely inspect plants but will rely on information chemical manufacturers submit voluntarily.
Kenneth Lay
Kenneth Lay is the former chairman of Enron, an energy company that went bust late in 2001 after its questionable financial and accounting practices became public. But in the 1990s when Enron was the darling of Wall Street, Lay became friendly with George W. Bush and contributed or raised $550,000 for Bush's campaigns for governor of Texas and then president of the United States. After Bush became president Enron officials helped to write his energy policy bill, which benefits energy providers. Lay also influenced the federal decision not to impose price caps on California's electricity market during that state's huge energy crisis of 2000-2001. This decision was worth tens of millions to Enron.
Charles Heimbold
In recent years the hugely profitable pharmaceutical industry gave $42 million to George W. Bush and other Republican candidates. The industry is expected to spend as much as $150 million this year lobbying against any government efforts to lower skyrocketing drug prices or to provide a prescription drug benefit to seniors that would cut back industry profits. At one large drug company, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, executives were warned during the 2000 presidential campaign that they would be reported to the company CEO, Charles A. Heimbold Jr., if they did not make maximum donations to the Bush campaign. After Bush became president, Heimbold was appointed ambassador to Sweden. During the 2000 presidential election period, pharmaceutical companies contributed $27 million. Republicans received 69%, Democrats 31%.
So I ask you this - Can we say Campaign Reform??