Government for Sale, County Plans to Timeshare Lobbyist for $15,000
In an ever shrinking pie of federal dollars, this community believes the only way to get its share is to hire its own lobbyist. by Bob Nightingale
(libertarian)
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
In an article yesterday from the Kalamazoo (Michigan) Gazette at MLive.com, the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners voted 11-1 to pay a lobbyist $15,000. They're hoping that other communities in southwest Michigan will kick in the rest of the $100,000 fee the lobbyist wants to represent this region's interest.
I don't know if every congressional district is doing this, but it needs to stop.
The lone dissenter, Commissioner Maturen, should be commended for not wasting the tax money of his county and those of the rest of the country. Quoting from the article:
Commissioner David Maturen cast the lone dissenting vote. ``I think we already have a lobbyist in Washington, D.C.,'' Maturen said. ``It's called our congressman.''
He's right. Every one of us has a representive in congress and two senators. If the people don't think that Rep. Upton and Sen. Levin are getting the job done, they have a simpler solution in November 2008--at the voting booth. In the mean time, email and letters from constituents do work.
I've written Fred Upton on several occassions. He does write back. I don't always get the answers I'd like to hear, but he does explain what he does and why he does it. If he didn't do that, I would mark another name next year.
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