The X-Ray

This is a guest episode from the "Democracy Works" podcast. Swamp Stories will return  on March 16 with a new episode. Full notes at www.swampstories.org. 

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In 2010, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to record amounts of secret cash flowing into our elections. Here’s how it works - and why we have to stop it.

Guests:

• Former Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK)
• Anna Massoglia, Center for Responsive Politics, Researcher

More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.

“Politicians should not choose their voters.” That simple statement is at the heart of why no reform issue has gained more crosspartisan momentum in recent years than getting rid of so-called gerrymandering. But both parties have years of work and millions of dollars invested in drawing districts that benefit one team more than the other.

Guests: 

• Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and former presidential candidate
• Katie Fahey, The People, Executive Director
• Josh Silver, Represent.Us, Executive Director

More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.

Billionaires, political consultants, and the super PACs have more control in our political system than ever. And both parties are playing the game to win. Here’s how to begin fixing it.

Guests

• Mark McKinnon, former George W. Bush & John McCain political advisor, Host of SHOWTIME's "The Circus" 
• Trevor Potter, former Federal Election Commission Chair & Campaign Legal Center Founder and President

More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.

Little-known slush funds let elected leaders vacation at five-star resorts, spend tens of thousands of dollars at steakhouses steps from the Capitol, and upgrade their wardrobe one pair of shoes at a time — all under the guise of “fundraising.” But learn about why living lavishly leads to one member of Congress being thrown in jail, and others treating it as business as usual.

Guests

• Former Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
• Issue One Legislative Director Tyler Cole

More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.

During their orientation on Capitol Hill, new members of Congress learn about a decades-old tradition often referred to as dialing for dollars, or dues. Political leaders effectively turn newly elected lawmakers into telemarketers — exchanging seats on committees for contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars, and sometimes millions, to the political parties.

Guests:

• Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL)
• Former Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA) & Former DCCC Chair
• Issue One Research Director Michael Beckel

More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.

In 2003, PhRMA and other special interests in Washington overcame conservative opposition in Congress — including then-Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and others —  to pass the largest social welfare program in a generation, Medicare Part D (the prescription drug program). But what nobody knew at the time was one member of Congress in particular was cashing in and preparing to walk through the revolving door to work for the pharmaceutical industry.

Guests:

• Former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) & former Heritage Foundation President
• Former Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) & Issue One ReFormers Caucus Co-chair
• Issue One Executive Director Meredith McGehee

More show notes at www.swampstories.org. Follow Issue One on Twitter. Follow Weston Wamp on Twitter.

Issue One is the leading crosspartisan political reform group in Washington, uniting Republicans, Democrats, and independents to fix our broken system. More info at IssueOne.org.