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June 24, 2008

Report: Telecom Companies Gave More to Dems Who Switched on FISA

@ 5:42 pm by Chris Good

Telecommunications companies donated more money, on average, to Democrats who changed their minds last week and supported immunity for those companies' cooperation with administration wiretapping practices, a report by MAPLight.org finds.

Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T donated $8,359 on average, between January 2005 and March 2008, to 94 House Democrats who switched their stances and voted yes last week on the House's Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) overhaul bill.The same companies donated $4,987 on average to those who consistently opposed immunity and voted no, the study finds.

The House FISA bill would likely grant telecommunications companies legal immunity for complying with Bush administration wiretapping practices after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The 94 Democrats flagged by MAPLight.org as flip-floppers had previously supported a March 14 bill that would not grant immunity, according to the group. The study finds that 88 percent of those Democrats received PAC money from the three companies since 2005.

MAPLight.org is a group dedicated to "illuminating the connection" between money and politics. Its website includes a database that compiles lawmakers' and interest groups' stances on bills and lists donations to the lawmakers.

6 Comments »

The Hill welcomes comment from anyone and will almost always post it whether it is favorable or critical, as long as it is substantive and advances debate.
  1. "Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T donated $8,359 on average, between January 2005 and March 2008, to 94 House Democrats who switched their stances and voted yes last week on the House's Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) overhaul bill."

    Wow! I did not realize it was so inexpensive to purchase the vote of a congressman!

    You know folks, we've been going about dealing with the House and the Senate in the completely wrong way. When we know that Congress is going to vote for something to our detriment, instead of writing indignant letters or calling their offices, we'll just…outbid the lobbyists! For instance, I know there's got to be more than 8500 of us that would be willing to pony up $94 each to stop the FISA abomination.

    This could be the beginning of a new day in liberal activism–we'll just buy our Congresspeople back from the lobbyists.

    Comment by Helena Montana — June 24, 2008 @ 7:56 pm

  2. And it can also be found that some other collection of non-related corporations gave money in a specific way to elected officials. The story implies a violation of law, of collusion between corporations and that is not at all the case. Statistics that are isolated are not only worthless, they are disingenuous.

    Comment by ilitigant — June 24, 2008 @ 10:09 pm

  3. Everyone should be aware that such action essentially makes the Constitution superfluous:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-l-borosage/time-for-a-grand-inquest_b_109021.html

    Comment by bruce — June 24, 2008 @ 10:53 pm

  4. I have been inspired by these "democrats" to donate to a fund designed to remove them from office. I encourage anyone who cares about the fourth amendment and the principle of accountability to donate here:

    http://www.actblue.com/page/fisa

    So far, an astonishing $300,000+ has been raised. Do something and donate!

    Comment by Steve Kelso — June 25, 2008 @ 7:58 am

  5. From everything I have read, ActBlue is an Obama-backed PAC. Beware we centrists both Democrat and Republican. There are other funds to defeat the Pelosie twins (Nancy and Harry).

    Comment by ChumpedDemocrat — June 25, 2008 @ 9:35 am

  6. Vote Green. Vote Socialist. Vote whatever actual progressive alternative you have available.

    Comment by SocraticGadfly — June 25, 2008 @ 11:05 am

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