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Former Lobbyist Jack Abramoff argues funds are dwindling for political influence and the industry is having less impact in D.C.
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Fiscal -- in DC winning some victories on spending are lobbyists feeling the pinch.
Would know better about the -- -- in the jacare brought he was one of the world's most powerful lobbyists until it was brought down on fraud and bribery charges and an infamous Washington -- read a book.
Called capital punishment the hard truth about Washington so Jack -- the lobbyists getting worried.
Very very much so I'm -- they see their business slipping away.
-- people start to understand there's just no money out there and longer and yet you continue to hear that Washington is still growing that the restaurants are full -- lobbyist said.
Housing prices are still lives that were.
Also lagging indicator had been and unfortunately that I think that -- lobbyist community from what I see.
Are scrambling they're nervous they realize that they're -- gonna have to cannibalize each other to find out who's gonna wind up with a few bucks -- -- laughed.
But frankly they're part of the reason that we've arrived at this problem.
Now we hear a lot about reform.
At reforming a lot of there but every time I hear reform and wash -- don't really believe that you know we had.
We had campaign finance reform.
The McCain 50 -- that didn't amount to much we're spending more now than ever we had.
We -- Dodd-Frank of course we saw the big guys use their lobbyists to get -- big cut outs.
Side idea I don't believe and -- four I think the -- the way to reform Washington is to shrink it make sure there's less money in the -- do you great.
-- absolutely every time you -- reform from these guys frankly head for the hills it means basically more problems are coming.
But what we need is a systemic change in Washington DC.
You know that -- setter -- talks about how buzz in the old days obvious to compromise and everybody got along well that's great the losers of all -- compromise and the American people.
And that's why we're sitting with the problems we have today because they could compromise and right now we need the American people to stand up and tell them stop compromising and spending money you don't.
And for every compromise that is made I'm betting that there at least a couple of lobbyists.
Doling out whatever they dole out to urge them on is that right.
More than a couple on the lobbyists -- around like -- around the -- They're trying desperately to hold on -- but they've got create new problem programs that they can.
Convince these congressmen that don't listen it'll pass all the stealing in the country about people being upset about the money you're spending that you don't have.
It all passed just keep funding and things will be great.
Now you did it of course -- of these these fancy trips -- to golf courses in Scotland that's -- -- how or some other ways that that lobbyists as sort of -- people in the direction they want.
Well we're seeing some rather outrageous things of course today the country ride.
Stuff is breaking a little bit more -- some of those members got sweetheart loans -- things like that.
I think we're gonna see in future days as as probably in the not too distant future more more of this stuff spelling out -- the insider trading around that if friends and family.
Stock options or contributions of whatever it is.
It's starting in all come out and I think the American people getting angrier and angrier.
And hopefully we're heading to a point where frankly we can stop a lot of the stuff you say you think it's coming out you have some kind of inside information some is about to happen.
Well no I I don't have buy anything that I can announced but but I -- from friends on the hill.
There's just a lot more -- artery going on out there than people realize and I think we see every week more more things coming out this is the trend right now in the country.
People are sick of this and this all leads to the kind of crisis there were having on the fiscal front.
But the lobbyists are not gonna give up are they they're gonna try to find some way around the rules that are around even the shrinking of Washington.
Absolutely and the questions going to be whether or not they win -- the American people wins they're gonna try to win by waiting it out hoping that the American people.
Loses their attention goes back to watching American Idol or whatever it is and instead lets them get away with -- hopefully that won't happen.
It reminds me by the way whenever they try to do rule changes to stop the lobby he reminds you when they try to do.
Changes in tax -- it it's always attacks accounts Smart enough to figure away around rules I imagine -- same -- -- lobbyists.
Both actually worse here the lobbies are helping the helping them right the roles.
So that they're basically worthless they seem like they're -- things but they're worthless they systemic changed any real change here.
And it's not the kind of change a lot of murder alike but frankly seeing some of these new Tea Party members I have a lot of hope that if America sends more these -- -- people and there's a chance to get some real reform.
By the way you mentioned countrywide of course that's where -- that the loan giant was was kind of giving sweetheart deals mortgage deals to members of congress who did their bidding.
That we had Kent Conrad Chris Dodd can -- right is not gonna run again.
Chris Dodd is now out of the senate are there other people you think -- as represented by so looks into that that are going to be out.
But we know represented towns is involved in some way with that and it's clear that they've got at least four other members from what they said that they haven't announced -- And I presume that the way represented -- vice operates which is very professionally they're gonna allow law enforcement to step in and take care of this because it seems that there's been some real problem here.
Did you see Angelo Mozilo big guy who was heading up countrywide did you see him passing out some of these favors when you were -- No I never I never saw mean didn't it didn't -- -- restaurant.
And Jack thank you very by Jack Abramoff had to see again.
