How Much Did Traitorous Senators Get Paid To Betray Americans On TPP? – Interesting Numbers
US trade representative Michael Froman described his ten year process of crafting the sovereignty-killing TPP trade bill as now being “in the endgame.” We could say the same thing about the takeover of our nation.
The Senate just voted to abdicate their constitutionally mandated responsibility of advice and consent on treaties to the dictatorial executive branch and to lower the threshold for passage down to a simple majority. They also are handing away their ability to offer and vote on amendments as well as the ability to filibuster. In short, they and our sovereign nation are being purchased, twenty dollar bills are being tucked into their g-strings as they strut around like cheap, worn-out old peacocks.
This week brings the same test of character to the House that the treasonous prostitutes in the Senate failed last week.
The question gets down to one of morals and service. Do our representatives serve us or themselves through the acceptance of corporate bribes? The answer is overwhelmingly that they serve themselves and the corporations; at least that is the case in the Senate. They lined up in near unanimity, hands extended, in service to their corporate masters.
Treason isn’t free and although it is relatively cheap, most Senators and Representatives expect something in return for betraying their nation, their meaningless oaths and the constituents who elected them. Thanks to information provided in The Guardian, we now know the price of freedom, or more correctly, its betrayal, when viewed from a seat in the U.S. Capitol.
They reported that:
- Out of the total $1,148,971 given, an average of $17,676.48 was donated to each of the 65 “yea” votes.
- The average Republican member received $19,673.28 from corporate TPP supporters.
- The average Democrat received $9,689.23 from those same donors.
- The amounts given rise dramatically when looking at how much each senator running for re-election received.
- Two days before the fast-track vote, Obama was a few votes shy of having the filibuster-proof majority he needed. Ron Wyden and seven other Senate Democrats announced they were on the fence on May 12th, distinguishing themselves from the Senate’s 54 Republicans and handful of Democrats as the votes to sway.
- In just 24 hours, Wyden and five of those Democratic holdouts – Michael Bennet of Colorado, Dianne Feinstein of California (already a proponent but wanting some quick cash), Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Patty Murray of Washington, and Bill Nelson of Florida – caved and voted for fast-track.
- Bennet, Murray, and Wyden – all running for re-election in 2016 – received $105,900 between the three of them. Bennet, who comes from the more purple state of Colorado, got $53,700 in corporate campaign donations between January and March 2015, according to Channing’s research.
- Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, who is the former US trade representative, has been one of the loudest proponents of the TPP. (In a comment to the Guardian Portman’s office said: “Senator Portman is not a vocal proponent of TPP – he has said it’s still being negotiated and if and when an agreement is reached he will review it carefully.”) He received $119,700 from 14 different corporations between January and March, most of which comes from donations from Goldman Sachs ($70,600), Pfizer ($15,700), and Procter & Gamble ($12,900). Portman is expected to run against former Ohio governor Ted Strickland in 2016 in one of the most politically competitive states in the country.
- Seven Republicans who voted “yea” to fast-track and are also running for re-election next year cleaned up between January and March. Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia received $102,500 in corporate contributions. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, best known for proposing a Monsanto-written bill in 2013 that became known as the Monsanto Protection Act, received $77,900 – $13,500 of which came from Monsanto.
- Arizona senator and former presidential candidate John McCain received $51,700 in the first quarter of 2015. Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina received $60,000 in corporate donations. Eighty-one-year-old senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who is running for his seventh Senate term, received $35,000. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who will be running for his first full six-year term in 2016, received $67,500 from pro-TPP corporations.
- They also referenced a chart which can be seen here.
Clearly there is a shortage of patriotism in the Senate. One word describes the majority of members of that body; disgraceful. Once again the people of the United States must look to the House of Representatives for responsible government. Though their leadership is every bit as corrupt as that of the Senate, the membership still represents their constituents with a much greater fidelity than their Senate counterparts.
Anybody who votes to turn over their Constitution-given powers to this wannabe dictator in the White House has abused their office and is not worthy of their office and must be turned out. We’ve got a lot of corruption to weed out, and it started with vote in the Senate last Thursday.
Source – The Guardian
Rick Wells is a conservative writer who recognizes that our nation, our Constitution and our traditions are under a full scale assault from multiple threats. Please “Like” him on Facebook, “Follow” him on Twitter or visit www.rickwells.us &www.truthburgers.com
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