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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHere’s how much corporations paid US senators to fast-track the TPP bill
Heres how much corporations paid US senators to fast-track the TPP billCritics of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership are unlikely to be silenced by an analysis of the flood of money it took to push the pact over its latest hurdle
by C Robert Gibson and Taylor Channing * The Guardian * 5/27/15
~snip~
* Out of the total $1,148,971 given, an average of $17,676.48 was donated to each of the 65 yea votes.
* The average Republican member received $19,673.28 from corporate TPP supporters.
* The average Democrat received $9,689.23 from those same donors.
The amounts given rise dramatically when looking at how much each senator running for re-election received.
Two days before the fast-track vote, Obama was a few votes shy of having the filibuster-proof majority he needed. Ron Wyden and seven other Senate Democrats announced they were on the fence on 12 May, distinguishing themselves from the Senates 54 Republicans and handful of Democrats as the votes to sway.
In just 24 hours, Wyden and five of those Democratic holdouts Michael Bennet of Colorado, Dianne Feinstein of California, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Patty Murray of Washington, and Bill Nelson of Florida caved and voted for fast-track.
Bennet, Murray, and Wyden all running for re-election in 2016 received $105,900 between the three of them. Bennet, who comes from the more purple state of Colorado, got $53,700 in corporate campaign donations between January and March 2015, according to Channings research.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/27/corporations-paid-us-senators-fast-track-tpp
djean111
(14,255 posts)Well, I will not be voting for Nelson.
Can't wait, in a sadly horrified way, to see who votes for Fast Track in the House.
I am also beginning to wonder why people are asked to donate to most politicians - looks like the politicians do just fine with corporate payola.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)When you donate, you must list your employer.
The Guardian has compiled a list of employers from individual donors.
It is illegal for corporations to make direct donations to federal campaigns.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)That's the donors "just happened" to be giving hand-over-fist when TPP was on the table?
What exactly is inaccurate about these numbers? Anything?
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)You can make any correlation you like WRT any politician with a compiled list of employers of donors.
It says nothing whatsoever and is merely a red herring used to try to support a viewpoint. It has no bearing at all.
My employer had to be listed when I donated to Obama. It says nothing about my employer's influence on Obama's decisions.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)when TPP fast-track was in critical hours of voting.
Haven't you heard? There are no "accidents".
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)#2, there is no way to tell they would be making those donations during the critical hours of voting as that information is only revealed in monthly FEC reports. There is no time stamp on donations.
Like I said, a complete red herring.