The phrase
"legalized bribery" refers to a situation where a person or organization can give money, gifts, or other incentives to politicians or government officials within the boundaries of the law in order to influence their decisions or actions. It implies that although the act may be lawful, it allows for a form of corruption or undue influence.
Full definition
It just adds a little public money to camouflage the same old system
of legalized bribery dominated by millionaire and billionaire donors.
«We want to end the various forms of
legalized bribery in Albany, not require more disclosure of it.
Gargano was never sighted west of route 87 in 12 years, while Pataki turned econ development programs like Empire Zones turn
into legalized bribery mills for GOP donors.
By strictly limiting how much anyone may give to a candidate, as well as how much a candidate may spend, the system is designed to
banish legalized bribery.
After 16 years of «
legalized bribery,» a public apology and some light grovelling.
I understand in today's political climate you're just doing favors for your campaign donors, given that the financial sector is among your biggest contributors — and it's a shame that our system of campaign finance has effectively devolved to a state of
legalized bribery — but that said, it seems you've forgotten your roots in an effort to solidify your place within congress.
Citizens United has enabled billionaires and special interests to increasingly control the political campaign finance system, and amounts to
legalized bribery.
«This is
legalized bribery,» he said.
Bob Master, political director for the Communications Workers of America, took a shot at the current system in his speech, saying it was «
legalized bribery and legalized corruption, and it goes on every day.»
It includes
the legalized bribery of the implicit quid pro quo that exists when wealthy individuals and special interests pay for the campaigns and extra incomes of elected officials.
But given the state's dreadful history of corruption and
legalized bribery, you'd think the governor and comptroller would be pushing the authorities — which the governor controls, and which report to the comptroller — to be transparent about how who they are giving money and subsidies to.
Combine those two, and you have basically a system of
legalized bribery, where corporations, or the very wealthy using shell organizations, can dump unlimited amounts of money.
But, yes, our current campaign finance and lobbying system is one of
legalized bribery.
The Supreme Cout has
legalized bribery.
She says it's important that the commission will also be charged with coming up with recommended changes to a campaign finance system that she says amounts to
legalized bribery.
The legalized bribery of private campaign financing is thoroughly corrupting.
In his announcement, Lasher railed against the «special interests,
legalized bribery, government disinvestment and cynical bargains» that he called commonplace in Albany.
She calls it a form of
legalized bribery.
it's terrible that this system of
legalized bribery is now the driving force of the American education system.