| The clock is ticking on the Congressional "Supercommittee" that's charged with coming up with a budget solution. But things seem to be going slowly & committee members are refusing to discuss negotiations with other Congress members. What could be the hold up? As this Politico article notes, perhaps they're just too busy meeting with industry lobbyists who have "swarmed the supercommittee": In just six weeks, nearly 200 companies and special interests have reported that they’re lobbying the 12-member supercommittee. It’s a stunning ratio of lobbyists to lawmakers but makes sense when you consider the high stakes faced by interests ranging from the health care industry to Native American tribes. The groups fear the supercommittee will find $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction before Thanksgiving by cutting their funding or raising their taxes.
[...] It’s not just health care companies. Representatives from the defense, transportation, energy, telecom and education sectors are also weighing in. The airline industry, in particular, is engaging in a full-on lobbying assault as it tries to ensure that two revenue raisers in President Barack Obama’s jobs plan that would cost the industry $36 billion over 10 years aren’t included.
Faith groups have targeted the Supercommittee and are urging the members to not to slash the safety net. But they're offering a letter-writing campaign, not cold, hard cash. The 1% is on the prowl in the halls of Congress while the 99% is consigned to the parks and streets. The middle class isn't the only group that's been hollowed out. Money and corporate influence in our government is rotting the system from the inside out. |
