>Buying and/or selling votes in a federal election is a federal crime. I think it can incur a $10,000 fine and five years in jail. There have been previous incidents of vote selling on ebay or in the paper. They usually get prosecuted - I guess this guy didn't check the law?

How is what he's doing any different than a congressman insisting on some perk for his district in exchange for a vote on a bill? The guy isn't asking money in his own pocket, but for money to be spent in a way he thinks makes sense.

BTW, don't mistake this for my approval of his behavior. I'm just pointing out nuance.

Tamar