On Kimberly’s post on the NH Senate Majority PAC spending 4 digits on a mailer for incumbent NH State Senator Dave Boutin (which said PAC seems to only wish to spend money to keep incumbent NH State Senate Republican incumbents butts in those seats – an exclusive Good Old Boy club), commenter TC had this, in part, to ask:
The bigger question I think is why would a guy who stands to make $100 bucks at this job be spending tens of thousands of dollars to keep it? Crony Capitalism at its finest.
Good question! Good answer: because the stakes are so high. It isn’t about the pay level but it IS about the power that one can wield as a State Senator (and the title which often translates as “I Am Somebody” (as opposed to “There to Get Something Done” – Boutin seems to be in the former category). That is the coin of the realm in politics – power and influence. TC also has it right with the second part: Crony Capitalism.
Legislation generally requires somebody to do something (even if it is legislation that requires others to NOT do something – which requires somebody(s) to be the Watcher(s)). That costs money – LOTS of money in a lot of cases. And for State workers / unions, that’s more feed money. For outside agencies, it’s more contracts. Money, money money – the stakes are high as to who gets how much to do (little, in some cases).
Money, influence – far more rewarding than the $100 / year and to many, a very lucrative deal indeed.
