But if there is any truth to it at all, it is because of the added difficulty imposed by the 1974 contribution limits. The individual contribution limits should be adjusted for inflation. Nevertheless, fundraising is not the all-consuming task reformers say it is. Senators still find time to cast hundreds of votes every year, attend dozens of hearings, sit through countless meetings, and spend most weekends in their home states with their constituents. Let us deal with another one of the reformers' favorite fraudulent sound bites.
Bribery is illegal, period.
And whether a favor is in exchange for cash wired to a Swiss account, dinner at a fancy restaurant, a favorable editorial, or a campaign contribution, an official so corrupted has run afoul of U.S. criminal law, and the House and Senate rules of official conduct. It is cowardice, not corruption, that is rampant in Washington. But where corruption exists, the laws already exist to deal with it. All this irresponsible and baseless rhetoric by the reformers is intended to justify an unprecedented bureaucratic power grab with spending limits at the core. The primary election limit equals 67 percent of the general election limit.