Politics

The Truth About the GOP Agenda: Congressional Republicans Are Listening to Special Interest Lobbyists

By Speaker's Press Shop

Congressional Republicans have been trying to cultivate a feeling of suspense around their promise to unveil the GOP Agenda later this month, but the truth is the American people already know what Republicans stand for ? it?s no surprise.

It is also no surprise that Congressional Republicans are holding closed door meetings with special interest lobbyists to coordinate their strategy. From Politico, ?GOP-ers eye House, meet lobbyists?:

Top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are preparing for a GOP takeover ? by meeting with dozens of energy and telecom lobbyists.

Ranking member Joe Barton (Texas), potential 2011 GOP panel leader Fred Upton (Mich.) and Reps. John Shimkus (Ill.), Mike Rogers (Mich.) and Greg Walden (Ore.) met Wednesday with about 40 to 50 industry officials during an event at the National Republican Club.

An industry source in the room said the meeting wasn’t billed as a fundraiser. But the lawmakers’ message tacitly linked donations to the committee agenda in 2011 if Republicans win back the House.

?You should be giving us money because we’re going to be in charge,” the source said. “We’ll ensure there is no climate bill. But at the same time, they think they’ll build nuclear plants and more clean coal.”

Congressional Republicans have worked with Wall Street banks, credit card companies, Big Oil, and insurance companies ? the special interests that benefited from George Bush’s policies and created the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. We are not going back.

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 16, 2010 (boomark / email).