Is it legal for a senator or congressman to hold out his vote for special treatm

1. 55

   HoosierDONKposted 14 years ago

   Is it legal for a senator or congressman to hold out his vote for special treatment like what happen
   
   with the health care voting?   Why is this not a crime?  They sold their votes plain and simple?  There were bribes given and takin?  Shouldn't the justice department be looking into this?  Why is it ok for one government official to bribe another?  Are they protected from this?  I would like to see this brought up to the Attorney General but can't find a way to get a message to him... I want my congressmen from Indiana to start holding out his or her vote for special treatment for our state?  Is this ok?

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2. 60

   dabeanerposted 14 years ago

   It is not only legal, but it is very profitable. 
   
   Scottish philosopher Alexander Fraser Tytler, writing nearly two hundred years ago about the fall and decline of the Athenian Republic, proclaimed, "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury."
   
   Although Tytler was writing about a great republic that had fallen two thousand years earlier, he could have been predicting the decline and fall of the United States. Can anyone name, in all of Congress, ten senators and representatives who do not campaign on promises of delivering "the bacon" back to their home states or to special interest groups?
   
   More at
   http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_03 … 60203.html
   http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2 … -to-trace/

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3. 90

   Pamela99posted 14 years ago

   I wish I knew the answer to this question.  It is certainly unethical.  I would have to do some research to see if it is illegal.  I would think it goes against the constitution but things get very complicated where state rights are concerned.  i don't know why Charlie Rangel isn't in jail.  If we didn't pay taxes like he didn't, I'm sure we would have been hauled in by the IRS.  Congressment seem to get by with anything they want and where are the consequences?  Why don't they have to use the same health care we do?  There are many unanswered questions. 
   I would like to see this brought up to the Attorney General but I think nothing will happen anyway.  I have lost my faith in the government.

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4. 60

   RebelFollowerposted 13 years ago

   It's a game politicians play, the majority of the time they know the outcome before the vote is cast and the public informed. Politicians will be asked to hold a vote until the majority have turned in, and then if the vote is needed then they cast, if it's not needed they will cast the vote to make themselves look good to their constituents, especially in an election year

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5. 61

   PoliticsNOWposted 12 years ago

   You Assume they are afraid of the Law.  Boehner handed out Tobacco checks on the House floor.

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