For the Record': The Most Powerful Seats on Capitol Hill Are for Sale

At a time when the American people seem split on just about every issue, For the Record discovered one area where the nation is unified — the belief that the mix of money and politics has corrupted the judgment of elected officials.

According to a 2015 New York Times poll, a whopping 84 percent of Americans say money has too much influence on political campaigns today. In addition, 85 percent believe members of Congress sometimes or most of the time promote policies that benefit their campaign contributors.

Most people don't realize that campaign contributions buy a lot more than TV ads and yard signs. Both Republicans and Democrats openly distribute lists of "dues goals" for members of Congress — essentially a price list for congressmen to use campaign contributions to buy a spot in party leadership or on powerful committees.