I agree with them. It is not a matter of individual corruption. I think it is probably extremely rare that a particular contribution causes a member to cast a particular vote. But the special interest money is always there, and I believe that we do suffer under what I have repeatedly called a systemic corruption. Unfortunately, this is no longer a shocking announcement, even if it is a shocking fact.
Money does shape what is considered do-able and realistic here in Washington.
It does buy access. We have both the appearance and the reality of systemic corruption. And we must act. Here in the Senate, we must push forward this spring on tough, comprehensive reform. The budget cuts proposed most deeply affect those who are least well off, while the tax cuts proposed mostly go to the wealthy.