Friday, August 19, 2011

Rep. Paul Ryan, Other Republicans Takes “Pay for Access” to a New Level – Constituents Have to Pay to Talk to Their Representative

Getting Grassroots Support, $15.00 per Person


It is a well known fact in Washington that access to legislators costs money.  Lobbyist who want to lobby know they have to pay to play.  That this is not illegal is just one of the many “free speech” concepts that are enshrined in our system of government.

Now Medicare Killer Rep. Paul Ryan, (R, Wi) has taken the concept to a new low. 



Steve G. Jozefczyk of Franklin, Wis., gets out of his front row seat and walks up to Paul Ryan as he challenges Ryan's Federal budget proposal as Ryan holds a town hall meeting. | AP Photo
Wait Camera Person, You Didn't Pay Your $15

It will cost $15 to ask Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) a question in person during the August congressional recess.

The House Budget Committee chairman isn’t holding any face-to-face open-to-the-public town hall meetings during the recess, but like several of his colleagues he will speak only for residents willing to open their wallets.

Mr. Ryan is being joined in this great business endeavor by his colleagues.

Rep. Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.) is scheduled to appear Aug. 23 at a luncheon gathering of the Arizona Republican Lawyers Association. For $35, attendees can question Quayle and enjoy a catered lunch at the Phoenix office of the Snell & Wilmer law firm.

And Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.) took heat in Duluth this weekend for holding private events in his district’s population and media center — including a $10-per-head meeting to be hosted next week by the local chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, which on its invitation notes that the organization “supported Chip in his stunning upset over longtime Congressman Jim Oberstar in the 2010 election

Once again Conservative Republicans have it wrong.  Instead of charging for their constituents to ask them questions, they should be paying citizens for the pain and suffering of having to put up with them.  And unlike Conservatives proposal to cap medical malpractice awards, there should be no limit on damages for “representation malpractice.”

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