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.

Released on February 3, 2020

GUESTS

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson — The Price of Power (May 2017)

• Report: The Price of Power — How political parties squeeze influential lawmakers to boost campaign coffers (May 2017)

• Last Week Tonight — Congressional Fundraising (April 2016)

• Breitbart: Congressman Ken Buck’s (R-CO) ‘Drain the Swamp:  How Washington Corruption is Worse Than You Think’ (April 2017)

• The Intercept — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on her first weeks in Washington (January 2019)

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