Buying lawmakers

The Jan. 18 article Special interests shape session as cash pours in reported how massive campaign contributions are controlling Florida’s legislative agenda and how big business is buying state legislators’ votes to protect their bottom lines.

If the money had been given directly to the legislators it would be called bribery and corruption. But by making out their checks to political action committees, it’s called corporate free speech. In either case, the result is the same: The interests of Florida voters are sold to the highest bidder.

Bernie Sanders is right. Money has corrupted politics and weakened our democracy. But the politicians who are benefiting from this dirty affair are loath to cut off their funding sources, so the message to Florida voters is clear: If you want to write your state legislator about an issue, slip a check made out to his or her PAC in the envelope — and make it a big one or don’t waste the stamp.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 6:21 PM with the headline "Buying lawmakers."