If anyone was wondering, the documents make clear that money buys access.

They just want to make sure they've bought access and influence with a member of Congress.

Yet officials acknowledge that large donations often buy access, if not influence.

That's one argument against letting money buy access to power.

"My view is that you shouldn't have to buy access, whether it's $1,000 or $5,000," he said in 1987.

That buys access to a network of lawyers in private practice.

If you want to buy access, that's the place to go.

They lack the money to buy political access and influence with campaign contributions.

Corporate money goes to buy access in Washington and wants to back winners.

A campaign contribution, if nothing else, buys access and influence.