That is very unusual because, in effect, if you freeze or seize the account, you’re stopping the campaign and most prosecutors won’t do that without very good cause.

I think it’s a long shot, for anyone to think it will be passed in Congress.

One of the problems the Indians are going to face after all this is that they still want to be able to make campaign donations, but I don’t know who is going to be willing...

People expect further indictments before November, which may very well be at a lower level. Then prosecutors will see how high they can take it. This is a ticking time bomb and no one knows...

They’re a big player,

It has to be seen for what it is. This is an industry group supported by the industry to put forward the views of the pharmaceutical industry on this issue.

DeLay set a new benchmark for fund raising and that’s not going to go away.

Members may escape a conviction for bribery but not escape the political fallout.

If a party puts $4 million into a House race, it’s really releasing a lot of guns. It shows the importance of the race.

The Republicans made a very big deal about it during the Clinton administration, … In this whole business, the whole issue is perception.

In the end, what is going to be judged is whether there is enforcement of the laws. The key is disclosure and transparency.

A lot of people tend to vote for their economic interest. So doctors see their interests more aligned with the Republicans, believing that Democrats favor more of a standardized health care plan, while 86 percent...

Indian tribes have become a political force, and they have to be looked at that way with regard to political contributions.

This is an end run around the campaign finance laws. It does away with the contribution limits and it avoids disclosure, and it’s a way for the special interests who are supporting him to buy...

You get this image that they are taking money out of one pocket and giving it to a charity while they are taking money from lobbyist-sponsored fundraisers with the other hand.

In most cases, it’s a discrete amount of money [involved] – it’s not the entire campaign war chest. You are usually talking about a small percentage of the total campaign fund, in which case it’s...

I think 2006 may be a very contentious year. The Democrats see a very weakened president, and the Republicans running for re-election are really concerned about relying on Bush’s popularity. I think the Democrats are...

I think they felt the way that many high-tech companies felt: that what happened in Washington didn’t affect them and that they were outside the political realm.

The declaration of net income for a year that the gross of the fees received far exceed the income limit is troubling.

There is a real incumbent advantage, because the line between campaigning and Senate duties is very thin.

These are people who want to be close to the governor and they’re buying access. Their business interests are tied up with his political agenda. And when he spends a lot of time raising money...

The line between a bribe and a legal contribution is very thin, but it is that line that keeps you out of jail. The critical element is whether there was an understanding or agreement to...

That’s a major fight. It brings in a lot of the national security issues that the administration has been hammering. This is all the things they’ve been using as hot-button issues to motivate the base....

There is a fine line between a political contribution and a bribe, but that fine line is the difference between returning to Congress and going to jail.