Influence and $

The LA Times had a good investigative piece today detailing the connections between Rep. Curt Weldon's advocacy on behalf of Russian and Serb nationals who also have lucrative contracts with his 29 year old daughter's firm.

Call me naive, but I thought we had gotten past the point where anyone thought they could make hundreds of thousands off of their power. Sure we have campaign contributions which, though somewhat regulated, are a means of helping your friends and rewarding them for their assistance, but that money is supposed to be used only for campaigning. This went to Weldon's daughter's bank account directly. The piece is even more damaging than the previous piece on Sen. Harry Reid's family.