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Anti-Transparency Senators and Their Campaign Cash

Submitted by Adam Smith on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 18:10

Every original Senate co-sponsor of legislation that would block transparency of federal contractor political contributions can count government contractors as top donors to their campaign, according to Public Campaign analysis of campaign data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics and federal spending data by FedSpending.org.

The bill, S. 1100, is meant to short-circuit possible plans by the Obama administration to sign an executive order that would require government contractors to disclose their political spending. We looked at the top 20 donors to each Senator during their time in Congress and below are the government contractors that fall under those lists.

Cosponsors:

  • Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has received $99,550 from the employees and PAC of General Dynamics throughout her career. The company received $5.8 billion in government contracts in 2009. She also received $34,801 from Raytheon-connected donors. The company received $7 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) has received $24,358 in contributions from the employees and PAC of Verizon. The company received $6.9 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) has received $76,608 in contributions from the employees and PAC of Verizon throughout her career. The company received $6.9 billion in government contracts in 2009. He also received $70,150 from General Electric donors. The company received $1.1 billion government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) has received $31,000 from the employees and PAC of General Electric. The company received $1.1 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has received $63,350 from BellSouth employees and PAC. The company’s parent, AT&T, received $161 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) has received $30,000 from the employees and PAC of Northrop Grumman. The company received $7.8 billion in government contracts in 2009. He also received $26,320 from donors connected to Ball Corp., which received $68.7 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) received $74,600 from AT&T employees and PAC. The company received $161 million in government contracts in 2009. He also received $48,250 from Lockheed Martin, which received $14.5 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) received $25,750 from the employees and PAC of AT&T. The company received $161 million in government contracts in 2009. He also received $22,500 from Abbott Laboratories donors, which received $77.5 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) received $52,250 from the employees and PAC of Verizon. The company received $6.9 billion in government contracts in 2009. He also received $49,950 from the employees and PAC of Deere & Co., which received $31.2 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) received $65,999 from the employees and PAC of AT&T. The company received $161 million in government contracts in 2009. He also received $54,300 from General Electric donors, which received $1.1 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) received $50,050 from UPS-related donors.  The company received $8.8 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb) has received $57,650 from the employees and PAC of Alltel. The company received $2.5 million in government contracts in 2009. He also received $27,750 from the employees and PAC of ConAgra, which received $35.5 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) has received $16,650 from the employees and PAC of Sargento. The company received $5.4 million in government contracts in 2009. He also received $10,813 from the Oshkosh-related donors, which received $1.7 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) received $42,950 from the employees and PAC of Raytheon. The company received $7 billion in government contracts in 2009. He also received $42,750 from AT&T, which received $161 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) received $77,050 from the employees and PAC of AT&T. The company received $161 million in government contracts in 2009. He also received $71,750 from General Electric donors, which received $1.1 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) received $46,850 from AT&T donors. The company received $161 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) received $95,010 from the employees and PAC of General Electric. The company received $1.1 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) received $56,800 from the employees and PAC of Blue Cross Blue Shield. The company received $7.7 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) received $52,550 from the employees and PAC of BellSouth. The company’s parent, AT&T received $161 million in government contracts in 2009. He also received $38,050 from Northrop Grumman, which received $7.8 billion in government contracts in 2009.
  • Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) received $48,500 from the employees and PAC of Northrop Grumman. The company received $7.8 billion in government contracts in 2009. He also received $40,250 from Caterpillar, which received $92 million in government contracts in 2009.
  • executive order
  • government contractors
  • transparency
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