Guess who owns our politicians
Doug McIntyre
I'm springing a quiz on you today.
California is circling the drain because: A.) the unions own the politicians. Or B.) The corporations own the politicians.
And pencils down!
The real answer is C.) The unions AND the corporations own the politicians.
If there was ever any doubt, that's been erased by a new report from the Fair Political Practices Commission aptly titled "Big Money Talks."
Here's who runs your life:
The Number One corrupter of public policy is the California Teachers Association, which forked over $211.8million to buy senators, assemblymen, mayors and city councilors from Crescent City to Chula Vista.
Hot on their heels is another giant union, the California State Council of Service Employees, which dumped $107.5 million into the laps of our so-called public servants.
Two public employee unions jobbing the system will come as no surprise to conservatives. Case closed, right? Keep reading.
The third biggest check writer is the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which ponied up $104.9 million to make sure every Californian will have an endless supply of premium-priced Botox and Cialis.
Next on the list are two Indian casinos - the Morongo Band of Mission Indians who've made it their mission to own the California Assembly, with $83.6 million funneled into campaigns, and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians who must have looser slots since they only
forked over $69.3 million. Whatever you drop at the tables is chump change compared to the price we pay from millions of free-floating casino dollars flying around Sacramento.
Rounding out the list of top johns in the whorehouse known as California politics is a Who's Who of corporate welfare recipients: Pacific Gas & Electric, $69.2 million; Chevron Inc., $66.3 million; AT&T, $59.6 million; Philip Morris USA, $50.8 million; the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians, $49.1 million; Southern California Edison, $43.4 million; the California Hospital Association, $43.3 million; the California Chamber of Commerce, $39.1 million; the Western States Petroleum Association, $35.2 million; and bringing up the rear, Aera Energy LLC at $34.7 million, and we know exactly whose rear they're bringing it up. We're so lost in the suck-mud of idiotic left/right, Republican/Democratic jabbering we've lost sight of the purpose of government, public service! When will the special interest bubble burst? Doug McIntyre's column appears Wednesdays and Sundays. You can reach him at dncolumnist@dailynews.com.