Inside Report (4)

"Money is the mother's milk of politics,'' California state treasurer Jesse Unruh once said, and that has been amply evident on Capitol Hill recently. In a 243-153 vote, the House of Representatives recently turned down a measure that would have reduced dairy price supports.

Information from the Federal Election Commission gathered by Common Cause shows that members of Congress voting to continue supports received nearly 10 times as much money in total from dairy industry political action committees as did those who voted against dairy industry interests. On average, members voting for the industry received $4,271 each in the 1978 and 1980 elections, compared with $718 for those who voted against the price supports.

Some Washington wags are saying it only shows that lawmakers know on which side their bread is buttered.