No bounds on Republican self-interest

This would be laughable were it not for the fact that such Republicans are repeatedly getting their way on issues like this. The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a Republican policy and lobby group is conducting a meeting on May 11, 2005, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 P.M. They are offering a free lunch to offer a policy initiative to exempt Republicans and their businesses from criminal law.

The policy primer's topic is "The Threat of Overcriminalization." Their invitational email states:

This program will address the recent proliferation of criminal laws that regulate business and individual conduct traditionally left to the free market or civil law.

Our speakers will include Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Cato Institute scholar Gene Healy (author of "Go Directly To Jail"), and Texas Association of Business president Bill Hammond.

You see, they are getting concerned about serving prison time for laws that criminalize unethical and illegal business and management practices. The obvious intent of this policy primer is to establish a platform to lobby against criminal penalties for business owners and corporate managers (does Enron ring a bell?) who steal from the public or otherwise subvert the laws and fair practice doctrines of our US legal and legislative system. Also to get government out of the business of regulating business so that profit may champion public safety and interest without fear of legal consequences.

This Texas Public Policy Foundation has been very effective in shaping both local and national policy. Beware! They have some very, very deep pockets backing them and inside connections that reach straight into the Whitehouse.