Bad, Bad, Conrad Burns

If it looks like a bribe, and walks like a bribe, and sounds like a bribe… it must be pretty darn close to Montana’s Republican Senator Conrad Burns, who has earned the award for most craven acceptance of corporate payoffs. Of all the members of Montana’s congressional delegation, Senator Conrad Burns has accepted the biggest amount of free trips paid for by corporations that have business before the U.S. Congress.

Oh, it’s not that the other members of Montana’s congressional delegation are lily white and pure. Republican Congressman Daniel Rehberg has accepted $7,309 in free travel from corporate lobbyists. Democratic Senator Max Baucus, who often votes even more conservatively than some Republicans, has accepted $7,103 in trips paid for by corporations that would like to bend his ear.

Conrad Burns outdoes everyone else that Montana sends to Washington, D.C. – he’s a high achiever. With the cold efficiency of a veteran in legislative traffic, Senator Conrad Burns has accepted more corporate payoffs than all the rest of Montana’s congressional delegation combined. Burns has taken 43,880 dollars of travel paid for by corporate lobbyists since he was last up for election.

Conrad Burns can’t buy his seat in the United States Senate, of course, not if enough Montanans care enough to get out and vote. In just a little over a year from now, Conrad Burns will be up for re-election. There are three good Democrats vying for the nomination of their political party to take on Senator Burns. Take a look at their experience and their policy positions, and pick one to support in the 2006 midterm congressional elections.