The political parties are able to raise money from lobbyists, he said, who can then mix at an exclusive entertainment event with powerful lawmakers.

But in the House a few powerful lawmakers stand in its way.

For decades, powerful lawmakers sent money from "the other Washington."

The reasons are the influence of campaign donors and jobs in the districts of powerful lawmakers.

What actually happens is that the aid goes disproportionately to those districts represented by the most powerful lawmakers.

The Governor's plan, however, is expected to run into opposition from some powerful lawmakers.

All have worked for years to climb to their posts, where the authority to grant earmarks puts them among the most powerful lawmakers in Congress.

As a result, lobbyists and others are still paying big sums to spend time with powerful lawmakers in glamorous settings.

The ban has also been strongly opposed by some powerful Western lawmakers who say it would reduce logging jobs.

A12 The elderly's influence on Congress would be diminished under a proposal by an powerful lawmaker.