The roots of the poison tree

I've long been convinced lobbyists are at the root of corruption in government. Can't quite figure out how to cure the disease. I mean, hard to say we should just uproot it because, right to petition the government. But this mutation of lobbying rules should surely be pruned out.

The Post analysis shows that the interests of lawmakers and their relatives have overlapped to varying degrees on bills before Congress. In the past six years, for example, 36 congressional relatives — including spouses, children, siblings, parents and in-laws — have been paid to influence 250 bills passing through their family members’ congressional committees or sponsored by the members.

All of this is legal under the rules Congress has written for itself.

So maybe the problem is, they're writing their own damn rules.

[Dark Guardian Graphic]