What Happens When Bribery Stops Working?

In this case, at least, the bribers stop bribing.

The National Association of Home Builders, one of the top 10 corporate donors to politicians, has stopped contributing to congressional candidates after it failed to get what it wanted in recent anti-recession legislation.

It’s all the Land of Make-Believe on K Street:

Election experts said the lobby's move illustrated how closely interest groups tie their donations to the decisions they hope lawmakers will take on their behalf -- a connection that usually goes unspoken.

Let’s all just keep pretending that it’s all legal, nobody is breaking any laws and that our politicians aren’t bought and paid for:

Ethics lawyers routinely warn interest groups to avoid saying or implying that the money they provide to candidates compensates them for taking a position on a particular piece of legislation. Such quid pro quos could be considered illegal gratuities or bribes.

But lawmakers do not like to be reminded in public that lobbyists offer them money in hopes of receiving favorable treatment.

It would be a good thing if this withdrawal of bribery by the Homebuilders does draw attention to this situation:

"Lobbies like to pretend that congressional action and their donations aren't tied, " said Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "But the home builders just confirmed that they are."

The home builders' announcement also explodes the oft-repeated assertion by politicians that lobbyists deal with them only at arm's length. "How many members of Congress have you heard say, 'People donate to me, but it has no effect at all'?" Sloan said. "What the home builders have done is expose the underbelly of the connection between money and politics."

Will this end all the bribery that is undermining our democracy? I’m not holding my breath.