With alarming swiftness President Trump installed his pay-to-play government and Republicans quickly adapted. For example: in April, Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s head of the Office of Management and Budget, openly told a banking trade association: “If you’re a lobbyist who never gave us money, I didn’t talk to you. If you’re a lobbyist who gave us money, I might talk to you.”
Last year, Jared Kushner dangled the possibility of a White House job to the co-founder of the Apollo Management Group who then loaned him $184 million. And Trump’s own personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, allegedly was selling access to Trump for millions, among other dirty deeds.
Meanwhile our own Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, refuses to meet publicly with her constituents. In this pay-to-play era it’s easy to understand why; according to the Federal Election Commission, well over 80 percent of Herrera Beutler’s campaign contributions come from political action committees and large corporate donations.
Until ordinary constituents can show up with enough cash in their hands, there will be no public town halls nor listening to the concerns of the majority. It’s pay-to-play time with Republican elites and representation just for the 1 percent.
