Time to Party With Lobbyists

What do Sandy Adams (Fla.), Quico Canseco (Texas), Rick Crawford (Ark.), Bob Dold (Ill.), Sean Duffy (Wis.), Stephen Fincher (Tenn.), Mike Fitzpatrick (Penn.), Daniel Webster (Fla.), Mike Grimm (N.Y.), Nan Hayworth (N.Y.), Jim Renacci (Ohio) and Cory Gardner (Col) all have in common. They all partied with lobbyists at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida.

Congressmen Canseco and Gardner were seen on camera heading in to host happy hour. To get in, donors had to pay at least $10,000.

During his campaign, Gardner promised average voters would inspire his actions. One ad said, "I will always put Colorado families before the Washington special interests."

Turns out Gardner put his interest in special interests above Colorado families. Families getting their homes foreclosed upon are not important when it's time to party. Nothing says helping Americans more than playing golf and slamming drinks with Spencer Bachus, Pete Sessions, and a group freshman Republicans.

You will be shocked to learn that nine of the congressman at the vacation fundraiser are on the committee with oversight of banks. You also will be shocked to learn that none of the elected Republicans at the fundraiser wanted to be interviewed by CBS News on-camera.

Republicans on the state and federal level have been living lavishly of the campaign contributions of their corporate donors. There are those Republican Party of Florida credit card bills that the state party continues to avoid discussing. Tom Feeney lost his House seat because of his infamous golf trip with Jack Abramoff. These REpublicans talk about hard work and the power of the free market. The truth is they want lavish corporate welfare and a government paycheck.

Rep. Rick Crawford Gets An Economics Lesson

Republican Rep. Rick Crawford said he will not vote to raise the federal debt ceiling. The ceiling is at $13.95 trillion. Crawford told voters at a townhall meeting that the debt can be paid off by making cuts to the EPA. The debt ceiling has to be raised this summer. People in the audience asked him if he is going to let the United States default.

Crawford said he won't let the United States default and he won't vote to raise the ceiling. It is fiscally impossible to cut our way out of defaulting before the summer. Crawford is right that incurring more debt isn't a longterm solution. I really don't think Crawford understands that the United States, the federal Reserve and its lending institutions would default if the ceiling is not raised. Crawford isn't going to find $13.95 trillion in cuts in the next month.