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The Waxman Report: How Congress Really Works

Manuel Butler

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The Waxman Report is a groundbreaking investigation into the inner workings of the United States Congress. It reveals how special interests, lobbyists, and campaign finance have corrupted the legislative process, leading to a system that is broken and unresponsive to the will of the people.

The Waxman Report: How Congress Really Works

by Joshua Green

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	200 pages

The report was commissioned by then-Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) in 2006. It was conducted by a team of investigators led by David Sirota, a former journalist who had written extensively about the influence of money in politics. The report was released in 2009, and it has since been cited as a major source of evidence in numerous legal challenges to campaign finance laws.

The Waxman Report found that special interests have an inordinate amount of influence over the legislative process. This is due in part to the fact that businesses and other organizations are able to spend unlimited amounts of money on lobbying and campaign contributions. The report also found that many members of Congress have close ties to special interests, and that they often vote in ways that benefit their donors.

The Waxman Report also found that the campaign finance system is broken. The report found that candidates for Congress are increasingly reliant on large donations from wealthy individuals and corporations. This has led to a situation in which the wealthy have a disproportionate amount of influence over the political process.

The Waxman Report is a damning indictment of the current state of American democracy. It reveals how special interests have corrupted the legislative process, and how the campaign finance system is broken. The report is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand how Congress really works.

Key Findings of the Waxman Report

Special interests have an inordinate amount of influence over the legislative process.
Businesses and other organizations are able to spend unlimited amounts of money on lobbying and campaign contributions.
Many members of Congress have close ties to special interests, and they often vote in ways that benefit their donors.
The campaign finance system is broken.
Candidates for Congress are increasingly reliant on large donations from wealthy individuals and corporations.
The wealthy have a disproportionate amount of influence over the political process.

Impact of the Waxman Report

The Waxman Report has had a significant impact on American politics. It has been cited as a major source of evidence in numerous legal challenges to campaign finance laws. The report has also helped to raise public awareness of the problem of special interest influence in politics.

In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. FEC that corporations have the same First Amendment rights as individuals. This ruling has made it even easier for special interests to influence the political process. However, the Waxman Report continues to be an important resource for those who are fighting to reform the campaign finance system and to reduce the influence of special interests in politics.

The Waxman Report: How Congress Really Works

by Joshua Green

4.6 out of 5