Lori Edwards Quotes

The men and women who now run for Congress have special features. Most of them are much wealthier than their constituents. Surprisingly few have strong policy interests or experience. Most are willing to spend a day or two or three each week asking strangers for money on the telephone, a demeaning but obligatory exercise. Most have internalized an ethical code that allows them to solicit campaign contributions from people directly affected by legislation they vote on. This is not rare or even unusual — it’s standard

A typical member of Congress devotes several hours a day to asking for contributions and several more to worrying about how her donors will feel about her votes on the floor.

Politics has got so expensive that it takes lots of money to even get beat with.

Eventually, money wins in politics.

People who think the might in Washington can be persuaded, or corrupted if you will, by anything less than voters just doesn’t understand what its about and never will. They don’t know what Washington juice is made of.

Those who have lobbyists are more likely to get what they want …. Those who have more money [to spend on lobbying] are more likely to prevail.

Members of state legislatures are owned by doctors and lawyers. That's why workers' compensation cannot be solved.

Congressman are spending too much time raising money.

The arms race for money being what it is, fundraising starts shortly after someone is elected to Congress.

Lobbying is declared to be a crime.

The legislation is made up down on K street

At home when people go to lawmakers and induce them with trips and gifts and so on to pass legislation, it's called corruption. But in the U.S. it's actually a profession called lobbying!

Money is influential in Congress, but votes will kick money’s ass any time they come up against each other.

All contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be forbidden by law.

Money is the mother's milk of politics

Until we make campaigns affordable, then we're going to have too many members of Congress out rattling the cup with special interest groups.

I think members of the legislature, people who have to run for office, know the connection between money and influence on what laws get passed.

Most elected officials don't want you to know about the world of political fundraising because they fear that it paints an unflattering portrait of public life.

Politics has become unbelievably and unfortunately way too much about how much money is involved rather than what kind of ideas are involved.

The Republican Party is not in the hands of the Jewish lobby in America as the Democratic Party must look quite often to Jewish money to finance candidates.

It is money, money, money! Not ideas, not principles, but money that reigns supreme in American politics.

I have the most reliable friend you can have in American politics, and that is ready money.

Now, the typical way you make good things happen in Washington is you find a bunch of wealthy companies who agree with you.

Have you ever seen a candidate talking to a rich person on television?

You can't take a congressman to lunch for $25 and buy him a hamburger or a steak or something like that. But you can take him to a fund-raising lunch and not only buy him that steak, but give him $25,000 extra and call it a fund-raiser - and have all the same access and all the same interactions with that congressman.