An example of what's wrong with politics

It's nice when both parties can drop the mud-slinging and come to an agreement on something that benefits both of them. Money.

A handful of lawmakers would benefit personally from a measure they helped push through the House to pay tobacco farmers almost $10 billion to give up a Depression-era federal program to bolster prices.

Rep. Bill Jenkins (R-Tenn.) would get an estimated $39,600 under the buyout, and his wife, Kathryn, an additional $14,500, according to government data compiled by the Environmental Working Group, which advocates change in federal farm policy.

(snip)

Rep. Bobby R. Etheridge (D-N.C.) also pushed to get the buyout included in the tax bill. He would get about $30,900 under the buyout, according to the data.

(snip)

Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.), another supporter of the buyout, owns with his brother a farm on which tobacco is grown. A spokesman for Davis said only the congressman's brother, Ceifer Davis, would get money from a buyout. The Environmental Working Group estimates the brother would get $29,700.

Rep. Edward Whitfield (R-Ky.) said his mother owns a small amount of tobacco quota. She would get less than $1,000, according to the Environmental Working Group's database, based on Agriculture Department figures.

Rep. A.B. "Ben" Chandler (D-Ky.) also disclosed through a spokesman that some of his relatives would benefit, although he did not say who they were or how much they would gain.

At least Jenkins was nice enough to write the house ethics committee to discover if he was allowed to vote. The reply came back yes, stating he would only have to abstain from voting if the matter "would impact the member in a direct and distinct manner rather than merely as a member of a class."

I guess $30,000 does not impact the member in a "direct and distinct manner."