By Eugene WilkieI love our system of two parties and have often held the position that each party has contributed to the betterment of our country. As a businessman I try to remain bipartisan as both parties have significantly contributed to my industry. It has only been in the last couple of years that I have grown greatly concerned for the Republican party. They have been taken hostage by the fossil fuel industry in a fashion that is unprecedented. It is has been mainly the Koch Brothers and what they have done buying political power is wrong. We have always dealt with money influencing politics but these guys have taken it to a new level. They are purposely harming local and federal constituencies to facilitate their own bottom line. It is one thing to influence agendas for profitability it is another to profit while damaging the rest of society. They force those that they buy to out right lie to the American people. Can you imagine being that politician who wants to do the right thing but is owned by this crazy group that demands that you lie to your constituencies that are not dumb and know you are lying. It has got to be an uncomfortable place. I am in the renewable energy industry and we have spent a huge amount of time on the political side of renewables trying to get legislation to support our industry. We do not, secretly behind closed doors, influence with money and hold politicians hostage to our agenda. We rally the constituents to speak loudly and clearly their position which enhances our business agenda. The Koch brothers hide behind the skirts of entities they back that spread money trying to buy influence. I would love to see the Republicans grow some balls and tell anyone who would harm our environment and go against the will of the people to take a hike. You are in office now and we don't care how you got there. Do the right thing and you will be re-elected no matter who payed the first time. The article below describes how Obama may address this issue. I think it is a great start but really we need our politicians to, on both sides, stand up and say enough is enough. You can not imagine how many lobby firms have guaranteed me federal contracts if I pay them. I have watched several in my industry use these entities and get the contracts. I have never felt right in buying my projects from politicians writing me into budgets. That is my choice and my companies have to forgo that additional revenue because of my choice. It is how these projects and products are won and it is the reality of how our country runs. There is a reason that the same names always get federal contracts. Here is how the process works. A company (like Halliburton) comes to a small minority company like mine. They partner with my company as the minority partner has more chance of winning contracts under the federal point system. Everyone on the federal side knows that it is really a company like Halliburton. A company like Halliburton then spreads political influence through lobbyist. There are several reasons that a small companies have to partner. One is the bonding of the job. Only a large corporation the size of a company like Halliburton will qualify. There are many reasons like this that small companies partner but the most important is that they have the political inside to insure getting the contract. They then get the contract. I can show you 100's of these that I have consulted on. So if the President does make this announcement described in the article below it may start to bring some transparency to the process. The article is definitely slanted in favor of Democrats but the message is clear. Transparency in federal bidding practices which I wholly support. The only reason that a politician would not want this is because it will expose who has bought them. Politicians look at it this way, you would no longer be blackmailed and held hostage by money influences. Remember when one money spigot dries up another can be opened.
By: Jason Easley
more from Jason Easley
By Jason Easley
VIA
Politicususa
It is being reported that one of President Obama’s surprises at the State Of The Union will be an announcement of an executive order that will take on the Koch Brothers and Citizens United.
Wednesday is the fifth anniversary of Citizens United, and reformers have been told that the president may announce executive action in his SOTU speech that would require businesses contracting with the government to disclose political contributions after contracts have been awarded. This would ensure that the contracting process is blind, but also give the public (and the media) the information needed to connect the dots to look for backroom deals or conflicts of interest.
It is possible that the president will announce this executive order tonight, but he may also decide to wait and make a separate announcement. When/if the president does decide to make this announcement it will be a huge boost to transparency. The Koch brothers have a web of secret organizations that they route their money through, so most of their campaign spending will remain a secret, but it will become a bit easier to connect the dots and figure how much direct influence campaign donations are having on public policy decisions.
A constitutional amendment or a Supreme Court decision will be required to kill Citizens United, but it appears that the president is planning to take action. Any executive order issued by the president would be the first positive step towards increased transparency in the last five years. President Obama can’t undo Citizens United alone, but he can take steps to give the American people access to information that is currently hidden.
You might qualify for a new government solar rebate program.
ReplyDeleteDetermine if you're eligble now!