The Cost of Corruption | WBUR and NPR - On Point with Tom Ashbrook

TODAY IS MONDAY, JULY 6, 2009

Tuesday, March 21, 2006 at 10:00 AM EST

The Cost of Corruption

By host Tom Ashbrook:

Talk about a fast-moving storm. For about five minutes, it seems in retrospect, America was up in arms in January over what look like a bought and paid for US Congress.

Republican congressman Duke Cunningham was headed for jail, with his yacht and his dirty millions. Super-lobbyist and Republican hot shot Jack Abramoff was pleading guilty to fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to bribe public officials with lavish trips, skybox suck-ups and cash.

The GOP promised a clean-up. Then came the Dubai ports deal and more Iraq trouble. Capitol corruption fell out of the headlines. Reform talk shrank, too.

Hear a conversation with Louise Slaughter, the ranking Democrat of the powerful House Rules Committee, about her report detailing the true cost of the GOP lobbying scandal.

Guests:

Gail Chaddock, Congressional Correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, Democratic Congresswoman for New York’s 28th District and Ranking Minority Member of the House Rules Committee

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