The Arrogance of Power - Lobbyists Over Citizens

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' decision to limit the occupancy of the State House to 3000 people is clearly and obviously designed to keep the Unions and sympathetic citizens from inconveniencing himself and the State Legislators with their presence and expression of their opinions in numbers.   His decision to allow lobbyist preferential entry is downright chilling to Democracy and the First Amendment.

Make no mistake, Mitch Daniels and any Legislator who supports this thinly veiled attack does not value ANY citizen nor ANY citizen's opinion on ANY matter.  Letting the paid jackals have clear and free entry, and without having to even stand in line, is blatantly against the interests of free and open government.  Each and every Legislator should be asked to go on the record as supporting or opposing these First Amendment assaults.

Buy the way - it costs $95 per year to sign up to be a lobbyist and you must be compensated by your employer as a primary qualification to enroll.  So, this has to be added to the list of 'pay to play' and 'paid to play' political advantages.  You have to be sure they have a bankroll sufficient enough to treat the politicians to all those nice freebies that they are accustomed to.  You and I aren't likely to do so.

The State website has a list of registered lobbyists for 2011.  It consist of 63 pages, each with about 13 names, for a rough total of 830 people who are more important to Daniels than you or I.

I hope the Indiana ACLU will step in with a lawsuit on behalf of a citizen who wanted to exercise their RIGHT to petition their government, but was denied entry to the Statehouse while a Lobbyist was allowed in.