Millions of dollars slosh from the pockets of powerful corporate interests into the campaign accounts of lawmakers who then write the laws that determine the rules for how these businesses make money -- or more money. Then millions more flood in through direct lobbying activity that ensures these same lawmakers are reminded, again and again, that the interests financing their campaigns have a favor to ask. . . .

Sen. Jim DeMint (R - South Carolina) recently cosponsored an amendment with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison prohibiting the FCC from enforcing new Net Neutrality regulations. Net Neutrality regulations prevent Internet Service Providers from restricting access to certain internet resources and content in an effort to control the market (e.g. the exclusion of a Google Voice application from the iPhone app store because it might compete with services offered by AT&T). Members of the telecom industry therefore oppose Net Neutrality regulations. During the 2008 election cycle, DeMint's leadership PAC, MINT PAC, accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the telecom industry, including AT&T ($10,000), Comcast ($8,000), the National Cable & Telecommunications Association ($5,000), and Verizon ($5,000). To date, MINT PAC has received $2,000 from Verizon for the 2010 campaign cycle. DeMint sits on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over communications.