Sunday, April 30, 2006

How Nodler really feels about lobbying reform


A close examination of Sen. Gary Nodler's comments in Joplin Globe statehouse correspondent Sadie Gurman's weekly legislative roundup gives a clear idea of how the Joplin senator stands on the reform movement.
The influence of lobbyists and the current campaign finance system are not problems, Nodler says; it's the fact that people are looking at them and thinking they are problems. To quote from the article:

"Nodler said national scandals have caused citizens to feel they are being left out of the state policy-making process as well due to the influence of lobbyists, even though he does not believe that's the case. 'The whole idea here is to try to rest public concern,' Nodler said. 'But I don't think any campaign-finance bill will be a magic panacea that will completely solve that.' "

All you have to do to see it is a problem is to examine the number of lobbyists donating to Senator Nodler and the amount of money that is being funneled through his Nodler Leadership PAC. Nodler and other leaders on both sides of the aisle are hoping this problem goes away.

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