On the Republican side of the aisle in the U.S. House of Representatives, members are rewarded with the most coveted committee assignments and chairmanships based on how much money they raise for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the campaign arm of the House GOP.
The system, viewed by some as unseemly, has long been the practice of House Republicans and is justified by the House Republicans, given the need to fund candidates' campaigns.
One of the longtime critics of the system has been U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), a candidate for Alabama's U.S. Senate seat up for grabs later this year.
During an appearance on Huntsville radio WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show," Brooks reacted to those claiming he had recently revealed the system as a secret during a campaign appearance.
"Every American ought to be upset with the way things are going in Washington, D.C.," Brooks said. "Regular Joe and Jane Citizen are left behind, and the special interest groups get the cream off the top, OK? I have expressed dissatisfaction on a regular basis."
According to the six-term congressman, chairmanships for the high-profile committees, including Ways & Means, Appropriations, Financial Services or Energy & Commerce, the opening bid is $1 million.
"The problem is Joe and Jane Citizen does not have that kind of money to give to their congressman so their congressman can have that kind of privilege position of power," Brooks said. "So, it forces the congressman, who covets these positions to do what special interest groups want because the special interest groups will return the favor. They will give you the money to buy the committee chairmanship."
Brooks offered a similar explanation last month during a campaign stop. Some of his political adversaries reacted by saying now that Brooks was running in third place in the Alabama U.S. Senate Republican primary, he was telling the secrets of the system. However, Brooks has long been an opponent of that system.
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