Currently, with the latest SCOTUS decisions, only explicit quip pro quo (i.e., I give you money, you vote for a law) is illegal. If I give you money, and then complain publicly that we need a law about something and you vote for it, that's not illegal.

Bribery is illegal, but lobbying is completely legal

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/the-differe...

That being said, off the books "I really want this" probably carries some weight when it comes from large donors I'd imagine. Is that bribery?

Dig up and ask John McCain how successful campaign finance reform was. I'll wait. ;@)

Or: Bob "gold bars" Menendez, Rudy Giuliani selling pardons for $2M USD, or almost every form of paid lobbying and campaign fundraising.

(Cooome baaack. Thhhhe caaaave issss tooo darrrk.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_federal_...