German politicans bought off by automakers

BERLIN, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- A German environmental group accused 100 politicians of being paid off by automakers, Deutsche-Welle reported Thursday.

The environmental group, Deutsche Umwelthife is charging the automobile industry with "predator lobbyism" claiming companies like Volkswagen are subverting environmental regulatory laws inside the company before they can take effect.

They believe as a result of politicians being on the payroll, environmental laws are less likely to be strictly enforced.

"There is a list of up to 100 persons in different parliaments, on several levels, on state level, on regional level, being paid by carmaker Volkswagen," said Jurgen Resch of Deutsche Umwelthife. "For example the mayor of Wolfsburg, the city where Volkswagen is situated, gets a salary from this company."

EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen one of the politicians accused, told a news conference Thursday he finds the controversy humiliating.

"I have never -- never in my life was (I) on the payroll of a public company or another company," he said

Under German law, parliamentarians are allowed to have an additional job, as long as they don't earn more than 3,000 euros a month, or 18,000 euros a year above their salary.