What Campaign Finance Reform???

This is going to be a long one folks. According to newsmax.com, members of Congress are finding a way to line their pockets and get their piece of the stimulus money. Here's how it works.

A member of Congress sits on a certain committee. Said member may have a non-profit or charity group with personal or family ties. Certain groups of industry and lobbyists on behalf of certain groups can donate any amount of money to said charity or non-profit. Nice work if you can get it, eh? It was only in 2007 that corporations and lobbyists were mandated to provide information when they donated to a charity or event connected with lawmakers.

Since the 2007 ethics agreement, USA Today has kept track of the lobbying reports. Wanna know how much? I hope you're sitting down: a total of $35.8 million in 2008. That's between a total of almost 2,800 reports filed. About $28 million went to non-profit groups with direct ties of members of Congress. Sickening. I've read and would suggest for anyone to read Outrage by Dick Morris. He details this scheme nicely.

Here is a list from newsmax.com listing some of the groups, their ties, and how much they got:

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Organization: Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate Connection: Named for Kennedy, wife on board. Received: $5,050,000 Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. Organization: James E. Clyburn Research and Scholarship Foundation Connection: Foundation named for congressman. Received: $326,224 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. Organization: The Faith and Politics Institute Connection: The congressman is co-chair emeritus of the institute. Received: $206,000 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind. Organization: Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy Connection: Center named for the senator. Received: $140,000 Financial documents: Unavailable Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. Organization: Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute Connection: Alzheimer's research institute named for senator's late mother. Received: $65,000 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 Sen. Susan CollinsR-Maine Organization: Alliance for Health Reform Connection: Senator is co-chair of Alliance for Health Reform, along with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. Received: $45,000 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind. Organization: Frontier Foundation Connection: Rep. Buyer's daughter was president of the group, and its treasurer is the executive director of his PAC. Received: $40,000 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas Organization: Joe Barton Family Foundation Connection: Foundation founded by Rep. Barton. His daughter-in-law, Amy Barton, is the executive director. Received: $35,000 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 Rep. Alan Mollohan, D-W.Va. Organization: Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation Connection: Mollohan is on the executive committee; named for his father. Received: $25,000 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif. Organization: Joe Baca Foundation Connection: Congressman is president of the foundation named for him. Received: $19,163 Financial documents: IRS Form 990 © 2009 USA Today. All rights reserved. Reprinted Via Rightslink.

Personally, I'm surprised the UAW hasn't donated to Ted "Chappaquidick Fats" Kennedy's charity to fund an underwater car museum.

Yes, I'm bitter.