Bruce Lunsford on Government Reform Democratic Senate challenger

Special interest contributions turn into legislative favors

"Here's how it works in Washington," says Lunsford. "The politicians get millions in campaign cash. The special interests get what they want. And we get the short end of the stick. Mitch McConnell is the master of this system. It's how Big Oil gets billions in tax breaks, and we get $4 a gallon gas. It's how Wall Street gets bailed out, and people lose their homes. It's how senators get indicted, and Mitch McConnell says nothing. If you're tired of this system, I say it's time for a change."

A campaign spokesman said, "McConnell's been bought and paid for with millions from Big Oil and other special interests. It's time for change."

McConnell runs a shakedown operation to get business donors

A: I've been an active political donor for more than 20 years, contributing nearly $200,000. About 70% of those contributions were to Democrats. The bulk of the Republican and McConnell contributions occurred after their 1994 takeover of Congress while I was running a large public company with significant regulatory oversight by the federal government. Everyone knows about the K Street Project in Washington. McConnell operates his own version of that shakedown with folks in business here in Kentucky and he was not shy about his requests for contributions, especially when our industry had critical legislation before the Senate. After 1999, when the impact of the Republican cuts to Medicare were clear, I have not given a penny to McConnell. Political contributions don't necessarily equal votes and not once have I cast a vote for Mitch McConnell.