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“Capitol Punishment” author Jack Abramoff on how to reduce the political influence of lobbyists.
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My next guest is a former Capitol Hill lobbyists businessman.
Whose name is -- -- with.
The danger in corruption of lobbying in Washington.
He was sentenced to prison in 2006 convicted of mail fraud and conspiracy.
Joining us now is the man and known one says the most -- -- and dangerous lobbyists in Washington DC Jack Abramoff.
Is the author of his new autobiography.
As the authors of autobiographies or want to be.
Capital punishment the hard truth about Washington corruption from America's most notorious lobbyist.
Jack Abramoff thanks for being here.
Thanks for having then -- let's start with.
The the politics of the time.
And now.
Is it your sense.
That with an administration.
There was elected with openness and transparency is its promise hope and change.
While somewhat ambiguous nonetheless they promise implied and its campaign.
And -- Republican led congress.
Are things any different than they were when you were plying your trade so affect.
Not not really I -- their room I think they've.
The march only different they may have changed the position of the -- chairs on the deck of the ship that it's took on in the same direction.
Still going the same direction.
And you can you see any number of candidates who were trying to be.
-- take over your most notorious title now that you've relinquished it.
-- -- a much sure they weren't wanna follow in my book -- but they're definitely doing a lot of the things I did and I didn't invent them to Begin with I may have -- -- more than than others but.
The problem -- the system is the same system.
And changing -- -- things tinkering with a few things isn't gonna really do much.
What is the surest way to change things.
War over four billion dollars a year spent on lobbying in the nation's capital middle class.
Doesn't even you.
It's interest aren't even heard from and -- Washington DC except by.
A few well meaning.
And sincere congressmen and senators.
What do they today.
Well I mean there are two problems these 30000 foot view of it is that the federal government -- -- -- too many things -- -- 20000 lobbyists running around town because the government -- -- hundreds of thousands of things.
There was never intended to be -- and until it's out of those things are really never gonna get rid of the -- lobbyists in the kind of corruption.
That we -- but there's some short term measures that are right about the book I try to describe what but this town is actually about.
What's going on behind those closed doors is frankly I was and they're doing it.
And I try to come up with some short term solutions and I think there are some things that can be done question is are they going to do that.
And well for example.
Republicans are examples include.
-- -- speaker of the house from you knew and worked -- What do you think of his candidacy is -- one of those people who could be.
I became fashionable in 2008 the talk about potentially president the United States -- the change agent which I think it's kind of an interesting way to look at it.
What are your thoughts.
Well unfortunately a nudist had a very tough -- it would be revelations about his.
The money he's gotten from spending -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and so I'm not certain he'll be able to lead this kind of revolution.
And I'm not certain by the way it's going to be led from the top I think like the Tea Party movement.
It may have to come from the people to individual legislators.
Pushing programs that are gonna get rid of some of these perks it's gotta come out of the congress -- the congress writes these rules for themselves.
Us.
And we'll continue one assumes to do so for some time without.
Is that -- president -- to be our congress or must be a party that decides to clean up of the conduct of the process in Washington DC.
Well I think everybody's got to have got to join me you know pushing this this -- horrible situation off the -- picture because.
The truth is there's endemic.
Corruption here.
They have a system that rewards of the special interest I know I applied it and worked very hard.
Money controls the baltics in the town.
And until one is able to separate the lobbying and those that the public trough.
From the money they give -- -- favors they give to the legislators.
And the people who work up there ones never gonna get rid of this corruption.
Jack Abramoff thanks for being with us appreciated.
The book is capital punishment the hard truth about.
Washington -- corruption from America's most notorious war.
