The Smell Test

John Deere Company wanted the state to buy more of its tractors. So its lobbyist set to work and Republican House Leader ‘Skip’ Stam proposed a bill to change how the state bids tractor buying contracts.
 
Stam’s bill sailed through the legislature, then the newspaper reported John Deere’s political committee gave seven of the bills’ sponsors $20,000.
 
Now, maybe John Deere selling more tractors to the state is a good idea. Or maybe not.
 
But any way you look at it seven legislators taking $20,000 from John Deere then sponsoring a bill to help them get state business doesn’t pass the smell test.
 
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Carter Wrenn

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The Smell Test

John Deere Company wanted the state to buy more of its tractors. So its lobbyist set to work and Republican House Leader ‘Skip’ Stam proposed a bill to change how the state bids tractor buying contracts.
 
Stam’s bill sailed through the legislature, then the newspaper reported John Deere’s political committee gave seven of the bills’ sponsors $20,000.
 
Now, maybe John Deere selling more tractors to the state is a good idea. Or maybe not.
 
But any way you look at it seven legislators taking $20,000 from John Deere then sponsoring a bill to help them get state business doesn’t pass the smell test.
 
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Carter Wrenn

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