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Old 02-06-2004, 11:55 AM   #9 (permalink)
onetime2
Junkie
 
Location: NJ
Quote:
Originally posted by prb
I read the entire article and found it lacking in details. It seems clear that Kerry went to bat for a legislative change that in some way benefitted AIG, but also benefitted the public by seeing to it that a road construction project, already started and burdened with cost overruns (not unusual at all in government projects), got completed. Kerry's proposed legislative amendment was approved by others, including John McCain, and was passed. Two years later AIG contributes money to Kerry or to groups he supports or which support him. This kind of activity/behavior can be found in any politician's background.

Not nearly as shocking or odiferous as first collecting enormous campaign contributions from the energy industry and the allowing the industry to set government policy toward it for the next four years. In secret meetings.
This is the perfect example of why politicians won't change their practices any time soon. Most people have the same opinion as prb. Everybody else does it, the Republicans do it, etc so it's no big deal.

It is a big deal if you'd like to see less waste in government. The government overpaid premiums, the company that overcharged them was allowed to earn money from the overcharge, keeping half of it and spending the other half on the project, and then Kerry gets support when he runs for office from the company he intervened for.
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