[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pqyax6gwzQ[/youtube]
Best hypocritical, bullshit quote of the day comes from a SD Republican lawmaker (Imagine that?):
But, Gray and other lawmakers don’t think the free food has much of an influence.
“I would tell you first and foremost all the legislators swear an oath that they will not accept anything of value for a vote. I don’t know that anybody up here is beholden to any lobbyist or any interest group. Frankly, if they were I think by now we wouldn’t have passed a smoking ban, we wouldn’t have changed our liquor laws, we probably would have given cities the opportunity to tax further,” Gray said.
So legislators are smart enough to not be influenced by a rib meal but voters are not smart enough to be influenced by a bowl of chili? Typical of a SD Lawmaker, ‘I am smarter than the average bear‘ mantra. Give me a break. It is pretty clear our state legislature are the bitches of corporate interests. If they were not, we would have a better education system, a fair tax system and higher wages. But guess what – we don’t.
And these same hypocrites have a hissy fit when hot dogs are served on the reservations.
While the Municipal League Rib feed maybe isn’t totally above board…that type of situation is’nt the problem in Pierre because every legislator is invited to attend. The real issue is when individual legislators are invited to private dinners by lobbyists where they down a few $200 bottles of wine, drink 18 yr old scotch and are treated to a $50.00 steak. This happens every night in Pierre. Don’t tell me that wouldn’t sway your opinion on any particular issue.
I also heard there is some pretty good gift giving going on. Why do you think they practically work for nothing?