Letter: GOP only concerned about bottom line

Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005 | 8:21 a.m.

But the Republicans' misplaced priorities did not begin or end with the Bush administration or these disasters.

Eleven years ago congressional Republicans signed the so-called "Contract With America" -- pledging to "restore accountability to Congress" and "to end its cycle of scandal and disgrace." But, instead of reforming government, these so-called Republican revolutionaries created a racket -- a lobbyist feeding frenzy that has showered billions on corporations and left the American people behind.

More than 100 Republicans who signed the contract still serve today, and are nothing more than accomplices to the scandals and misguided priorities of people such as House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. They've crafted law after law -- from the pharmaceutical company's prescription drug bill, to the creditors' bankruptcy bill, to the big-oil energy bill -- designed to benefit the bottom lines of their big campaign contributors.

As we've all watched the destruction and suffering along the Gulf Coast -- the under-funded levee system, the utter lack of disaster preparedness, the crushing poverty, and now reconstruction efforts that strip wage protections for reconstruction workers and provide no-bid contracts to Halliburton -- we've seen the real face of the Republican revolution.

Christine Molina Las Vegas