House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), and Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) Solicited Donations from Midwestern Energy Company for Favorable Legislation

The current Westar scandal is exposing the worst side of GOP politics: a Midwestern energy corporation wanted legislation that would boost its profits, and tried to buy what it wanted with campaign contributions. GOP legislators gave the company just what it asked for, removing the legislative giveaway only after a public scandal engulfed the company.

The story is a simple one told by Westar internal documents. The emails and memos below paint a picture of the perfect quid pro quo: a "seat at the table" for campaign contributions. (Note: You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the Westar documents.)

Step 1: "A Seat at the Table"

In a series of three emails, Westar Vice Presidents Douglas Lawrence and Douglas Lake discussed their "plan for participation to get a seat at the table" when GOP lawmakers crafted an energy bill. The plan involved $56,500 in donations -- split between the corporation and individual contributions from Westar executives -- to Republican Congressmen to ensure the passage of a special interest benefit for Westar into a federal energy bill.

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Step 2: "Total Budget for Our Washington Efforts"

In a May 17, 2002 memo to 13 fellow Westar executives, Lawrence explained the company's "estimated needs" for "the total budget for our Washington efforts regarding the Federal Energy Bill." The memo suggested that Westar executives contribute money to several GOP congressmen and candidates, including Tom DeLay and Senator Richard Shelby's protege, House GOP candidate Tom Young. Lawrence stressed that the donations were "recommended by our Washington lobbyist," and that time was "of the essence." This memo dictates exactly who gives exactly what to exactly whom.

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Step 3: The Quid Pro Quo

While drafting federal energy legislation, House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) inserted language into energy legislation that would have exempted Westar Energy from SEC regulation. Barton was able to defeat an attempt by Democrats to strip the language from the legislation. When a federal investigation of Westar began, however, the Republican lawmakers dropped support for the exemption.

Democrats Demand Investigation

DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe has sent letters to White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Attorney General John Ashcroft demanding an investigation into the contributions made by Westar executives to GOP lawmakers.

But Republicans are sticking together, and the Bush administration has refused to pursue these allegations.

Tell Your Friends

You can help by spreading the word about this outrageous GOP pay-for-play scandal. Click HERE to email friends from our website.

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--June 18, 2003

We want you to write Congress this Week to Ask Why the Drug Companies Stand to Benefit more than Retirees!
http://causenet.commoncause.org/afr/dbq/officials/

Years of massive campaign contributions and a veritable army of public relations specialists and lobbyists have drowned out the voices and interests of our nation’s seniors.

The Senate and the House recently unveiled proposals to add prescription drug coverage through Medicare.  Unfortunately, these fall far short of providing the type of benefit seniors have been requesting for years and will do little to address the increasing number of retirees who are uninsured or grossly underinsured for their prescription drug costs.
http://www.commoncause.org/action/rx.cfm?artid=16 

In fact, current proposals will secure a huge financial windfall for the pharmaceutical industry.  The proposals carry a $400 billion dollar price tag over a ten-year period and contain no language holding downs costs of prescription drugs. 

PhRMA’s hands are all over these new proposals!

The pharmaceutical industry, most often represented by the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the industry trade association, is one of the most influential lobbies in Washington.  For years PhRMA has engaged in a full court press complete with lavish campaign contributions, a revolving door of drug industry executives embedded in key government positions, the hiring of former Members of Congress as lobbyists, and extensive public relations campaigns.

Read Our Prescription For Power Report!
http://www.commoncause.org/action/phrma_study.pdf

Common Cause is weighing in on the debate on the Medicare prescription drug proposal because there are few better examples of the undue influence of major corporations over our democratic system than the lack of affordable prescription drug coverage.  In the coming weeks we will release new research on the pharmaceutical industry and help members take action to make their voices heard.

Take Action Now! 
This legislation is moving through Congress very quickly.  It is important to act now!

-->  Write your member of Congress Today!
http://causenet.commoncause.org/afr/dbq/officials/

-->  Forward this alert to a friend.
http://causenet.commoncause.org/afr/tellafriend/compose/

-->  Visit our website for more information.
http://www.commoncause.org/action/rx.cfm

-->  Watch Common Cause in action – Common Cause President Chellie Pingree will be featured in the FRONTLINE film "The Other Drug War," about the high cost of prescription drugs this Thursday, June 19, at 9 p.m. on PBS.

9:20:00 PM  Google It!