You're watching...
America may be divided between red and blue states, but 'BoomTown' is distinctly green
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
But back to the special edition of Hannity boom town now when the balance of power shifts in Washington no matter who controls the house -- senator Reid in the White House holds good for business.
Now those were getting rich of the imperial city that -- really care who's in charge as long as the money keeps flow and it.
Washington DC is America's Boomtown and like any -- He needs to have its own aristocracy.
In Washington DC we think -- politics in terms of red and blue Democrat Republican but here the color that really matters is doing.
We think about political parties and you think about political affiliations.
But what really matters in Washington DC his power affiliation.
My power affiliation.
You're talking about access.
Two political power and access to public officials.
And that comes through the lobby.
Whenever law whatever bills.
Trying to be -- did it may have adversely impact and -- -- There's a legislative team over the situation in -- industry that represent.
Fortunately for -- for transportation to of course you know.
So were able to -- chauffeured transportation to make sure that they can get to the hill -- timely manner so there's -- There were 100 new house members at one time and the 2000.
-- cycle.
And what that means is that every association has to come back to make sure that everything's cool right roll -- still exporting my bill thank you for your support and they get off it.
So it's really been great and that.
Lobbying takes place right here on hastily.
This is -- ever settle all of -- in full view of the White House and with the US -- not far away.
And when it comes to spending money large amounts of money -- spent here to influence decision.
It's a distinctly bipartisan.
Activity in fact that's the best way to do it.
So you have for example Republicans like former senator Trent Lott -- partners with a Democrat former senator John -- The political debates that we see oftentimes -- a little bit like professional wrestler it's not always what it appears to -- Obviously Evan Washington DC that they don't believe in family values because to become part of this aristocracy.
Oftentimes the best way to do it either to marry into -- reportedly born into.
And it's remarkable how many members of congress have family members who are registered lobbyists.
So consider for example congressman Bill Young from -- Who's been in office since 1971.
He's ahead of a very powerful subcommittee that controls spending on defense.
He has a daughter in law was a registered lobbyist since 2000 she has lobbied on one issue had done so very successful.
It says you would probably -- on defense that.
Or consider the case of senator Harry Reid the majority leader Democrat from the bottom.
He actually has several family members who have been registered lobbyists guesses on who was lobbied on behalf of several groups and secured fifty million dollars in earmarks.
He also has another son -- is involved in a five billion dollar venture involving a Chinese effort to develop an energy project in the desert of Nevada.
In that particular case the majority leader took a personal interest and helped to push for.
So just remember when you see the professional wrestling in Washington DC.
It's not so much red and blue it's really green the color that really matter.
Would it take -- now appears Schweitzer ST -- and pilot didn't Obama say that he was going to ban lobbyists from his administration I think he said that eliminating earmarks didn't.
I have that and make those things up that I the most transparent administration -- -- Well here -- the numbers it's what you have 78 members of congress 27 senators 51 house members that like -- Young.
I -- Bill Young has so what is -- a sister in law.
Bottom line yes yes that's exactly right it she he's -- father in law and and he sits on this powerful committee and she lobbies him GAAP and you know here's the -- universe since Washington DC Sean.
You go to every one of these members and they will say well.
The fact of my son or daughter or spouse is doing nothing to do and I -- you know I would not let that influence any decision -- make you don't give me a break I mean that that is just simply not an acceptable answer and we know how the real world works and this would not be tolerated in corporations and other areas when you deal with nepotism should get -- release its interest -- -- -- -- such indignation and such outrage when something like Enron or they can they can demonize Halliburton.
But yet this is the worst.
-- -- And -- it was never envisioned by the founders and this is what we're talk -- a permanent political class these guys come to Washington a lot times this country lawyers and what they do is -- stake.
There wise become law lobbyists that children their -- in laws they they build up a fit they turned they do business of government into a family business and this is how they stay here permanently.
This is how -- -- to be a permanent -- of a class a basic.
-- -- -- -- back to their own even in this case family members or friends or people they know or people that hire them when they retire which happens a lot.
That's exactly right I mean if you look for example the Republicans that came in 1994.
With the -- -- shred of revolution ten years later of those who had left.
Half of them were registered lobbyists because of the visit -- capable of doing anything -- hi this is all they're capable of doing well it may be all the capable of doing -- it's probably the most lucrative thing that they could do and and the reality is that it becomes very seductive in Washington DC and they accepted because everybody else is doing it.
-- -- and that's really the sad reality -- massive cultural problem in Washington but you talk about an aristocracy of political class that exists here so.
For all intent and purposes you dealing with people.
That a living up the all of the public dole taxpayers connected in some way shape matter or form and are never called.
Out on it never -- abortion -- first it's 2.2 trillion dollars of tax revenues they have the arrogance to borrow the rest.
Continue to Bart.
Not war -- at all about shrinking governor cutting budgets -- their entire families are benefiting from that that's what talk about the purple class.
That's what we look at incentives zero walk on wall for -- -- -- where the incentives where these senators in the follow the money still follow the money exactly here if you follow what you see why there's no incentive to cut budget there's no incentive to really shrink.
The federal government.
Because this program -- class of both local parties benefiting real -- do you -- do you find people in your investigation that actually do the right thing people that have higher standards or.
There are few curfew that they're -- yeah but really give me you're instilling confidence.
There are few shot and the reality is is it's very hard for those individuals to rising seniority in -- partly because the horse trading and the benefiting a family members -- takes place.
Is is really what helps you hugging and seniority -- and leadership it's systemic.
It's as it is it's it's it's a culture is systemic that's what's the Boomtown that's why is delivered high on the -- in the rest of the country suffer yes sir.
