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What’s the Price of Getting Into Congress?

Suzanne Merkelson

United Re:public / Infographic

Published: Friday 15 June 2012

“It takes a lot to get elected to Congress, but most of all it takes cash.”

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Our representatives in government aren’t just elected — they’re funded. It takes a lot to get elected to Congress, but most of all it takes cash. Members of Congress often spend up to 70 percent of their time fundraising, a problem that only gets worse with time — since 1982, campaign spending has increased fivefold.

Our friends at Rootstrikers are out with an infographic showing just how costly the problem is. Check it out above.

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ABOUT Suzanne Merkelson

Suzanne Merkelson is the Associate Web Editor for United Republic, where she curates and comments on the day’s top money-in-politics news. She previously produced web content for Foreign Policy magazine and has written for the Chicago Tribune, Foreign Policy, and The Atlantic, among others.

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Congress

3 comments on "What’s the Price of Getting Into Congress?"

ZAZZU

June 15, 2012 5:47pm

There's no way to share this article on facebook......how bout a 'share' button?

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Jeffrey Hill

June 15, 2012 12:32pm

Price of Congressional seat = 1 soul

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ChetDude

June 15, 2012 12:01pm

Best "democracy" money can buy...

In the land where everything's a commodity and up for sale to the highest bidder...

And politicians are the most cost effective "investment" a rich person/corporation can make -- about 1000 to 1 ROI...

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