LaTourette fund-raiser to cash in CAFTA vote (lying crook cashing in)

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1127295023122460.xml&coll=2

Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Stephen Koff
Plain Dealer Bureau Chief

Washington- U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette's last-minute flip-flop on the Central American Free Trade Agreement has caused no shortage of embarrassment.

But the Lake County Republican may be getting something for his trouble.

Tonight, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, President Bush's chief emissary on CAFTA, will co-host a political fund-raiser for LaTourette. Donors who put up $500 to $2,500 to see Portman at the Capitol Hill Club will be benefiting LaTourette's political treasury.

It's common for political stars to lend their help to Congress members seeking re-election, but the LaTourette event is unusual in two regards...

"Success in marriage" (lobbyist he dumped previous wife for gets $$$)

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/insidepolitics/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1127554697276461.xml&coll=2

...She took U.S. Rep. Steve LaTourette's last name after marrying the Concord Township Republican, her former boss, in February. She also has increased her billings with at least two of her clients, new federal lobbying records show.

Last year, Ms. Laptook billed the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority $40,000 every six months. But this year, the new Mrs. LaTourette listed $60,000 for the first six months, according to the new records.

And her firm's previous $60,000-per-six-month fee from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, back when she filed her lobbying reports as Ms. Laptook, has grown to $80,000 for Mrs. LaTourette.

Considering that the Clinic recently got $7.1 million from Congress to build a parking garage, and the Port Authority got $6 million for a ferry terminal, it may have been money well spent...


http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/05/lobbyist/index_np.html

where the use of unbridled bribes is obscenely used often in everyday transaction?