From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Money in politics, more than ever.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International, a daily look at the issues.

Americans care about most.

Members of Congress

have been investigated, prosecuted, and sent to prison this year for converting special interest

contributions into public policy. Nevertheless, there is more money in this year's midterm election

campaigns than there was in the presidential race two years ago. New record to being set at the state

level too. On to the point,

where does the money come from? Where does it go? And what's the return on investment?

Corporate America contributes to both parties, but it's difficult to establish a quid pro quo,

even when votes go its way. Can the corrupting influence of money be stamped out? Or is it

the cost of American-style democracy?

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and

Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again, Mormon-Aulney, back with To the Point. Despite a year

of corruption scandals on Capitol Hill, there's more money in this year's campaigns than ever before.

On To the Point, we'll find out where it comes from and where it goes and how difficult it can be

to prove that campaign contributors are paying for public

policy even when votes go their way. First, this news update charges from a gay prostitute have led

the Reverend Ted Haggard to resign as president of the National Association of Evangelicals,

...