[smolder]

An improvement would be if the number was lower because hired lobbyists were less effective. We should undo Citizens United with legislation so that concentrated wealth can't be used to bully politicians as easily, giving them the freedom to act on voters needs. If we treat unlimited political spending as the corruptive force it is instead of a fundamental right, things wouldn't be perfect but they would surely be better. Sadly, a corrupt legislature is unlikely to legislate away corruption. Campaigning on reversal of the CU ruling brought massive popular support and individual donations to Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, but IMO was a also a big (maybe biggest) reason he was treated as untenable by the establishment.