10 Quotes by Roberta Baskin

States, local governments, even school boards spend millions of taxpayer dollars competing to become favorites of the federal decision-makers. The way this game is played, no one can afford not to play.

Lobbying is like the fourth branch of government. It's a very powerful part of our government and our democracy.

I think most of the American people already expected their representatives to pay their own way.

Earmarks usually are slipped into appropriation bills without a vote, without debate and without notice. That's why a seat on the Appropriations Committee is so coveted.

There's a feeding frenzy for transparency and disclosure on Capitol Hill, and that's not a good way to start. You can't plead national security. The public has a right to know.

A scandal like this can have huge repercussions. This could lead to a new day on K Street.

It raises the specter of a conflict of interest. It's an ethical question.

It's like the sun coming up on K Street right now. There is the possibility and hope of there being a lot more scrutiny and accountability.

Their interest is waning because the public's interest is waning.