Warren: Richest U.S. companies spending more on lobbying than taxes By Andrew Jones Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Print 15 Elizabeth Warren on The Daily Show. Screenshot via Comedy Central. Topics: elizabeth warren ♦ jon stewart ♦ middle class
Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (D) appeared on The Daily Show Tuesday evening, to discuss the economic challenges facing Americas middle class.
The Harvard professor told host Jon Stewart of how the countrys politicians are surrounded by an army of lobbyists and an army of lawyers preventing them from helping average Americans.
If youre in the drug business and you are selling prescriptions to seniors and you dont want to have to negotiate over the prices, Washington works beautifully for you, she said. If you want subsidizes to drill for oil, Washington is working for you. If you run a hedge fund and you want to pay the lowest possible taxes, Washington is working for you.
Warren then mentioned a recent study on Americas most wealthy corporations, revealing a startling statistic that caused Stewart and the audience to groan in disgust.
It comes out that 30 of the largest companies of the United States are now spending more on lobbying than they pay in federal taxes, she said. Think about that. That is the investment and thats what they see in the future.
Warren went on to explain that its Americas middle class which is paying for Washingtons excesses.
Who really pays for that? she asked. And the answer is Americas middle class. Theyre the ones who are left to pick up all the pieces to pay the taxes to keep the country running. And more to the point, theyre the ones paying for the fact that theres not enough money left to invest in our kids future.
WATCH: Video from Comedy Central, which was broadcast on January 24, 2012.