EPA Destroys Water Quality Records, Deceives Archivist

[Belsnickel]

(08-10-2020, 12:18 PM)Dill Wrote: Research doesn't support the claim that corporations spend billions on lobbying and campaign contributions targeting representatives who can create favorable legislation for them? Or that they do but don't get results? What research? 

The research indicates that there isn't any real correlation between campaign spending or spending on lobbying and favorable policy results.

The work of Frank Baumgartner, specifically this one, is the best source to look at. The general takeaway is that the only statistically significant thing that resulted in positive policy outcomes was having mid-to-high level government allies (that already sided with you) or having revolving door lobbyists that had previously been embedded in the system. Campaign spending is literally almost 50/50 on wins and losses.

(08-10-2020, 12:18 PM)Dill Wrote: What makes the EPA/government "toothless" in enforcing regulations?

This is the result of hostile policy makers that have made it difficult for the EPA to do their thing.

(08-10-2020, 12:18 PM)Dill Wrote: Again, just wondering. Not an expert in EPA issues and history. Still, it seems like I am always reading about corporations regulated by the EPA who effectively court sympathetic Senators and Representatives with campaign money.
https://www.pogo.org/investigation/2019/01/wheeler-spins-barrasso-in-his-revolving-door/

This is why the EPA has become rather toothless, but those wins aren't because of campaign spending. The revolving door is one of the biggest issues, especially because that is another issue that is supposed to be regulated but isn't.