Forum Post: Top Sources of Political Funding
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 30, 2011, 5:49 p.m. EST by bronxj
(150)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Top 20 All-Time Donors, 1989-2012 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order=A
1 ActBlue $55,745,059
2 AT&T Inc $47,571,779
3 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $46,167,658
4 National Assn of Realtors $40,718,176
5 Service Employees International Union $37,634,367
6 National Education Assn $37,051,378
7 Goldman Sachs $35,790,579
8 American Assn for Justice $34,715,804
9 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $34,292,471
10 Laborers Union $31,876,950
11 American Federation of Teachers $31,681,366
12 Teamsters Union $31,285,842
13 Carpenters & Joiners Union $30,769,258
14 Communications Workers of America $30,192,447
15 Citigroup Inc $28,842,146
16 American Medical Assn $27,880,935
17 United Auto Workers $27,539,652
18 United Food & Commercial Workers Union $27,344,608
19 National Auto Dealers Assn $26,966,358
20 Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union $26,879,727
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list_stfed.php?order=A Top National Donors 2008 election Based on Combined State and Federal Contributions, 2007-2008
1 National Education Assn Total $56,228,408 Federal $2,676,297 State $53,552,11
2 Pechanga Band of Mission Indians Total $43,969,951 Federal $599,754 State $43,370,197
3 Penn National Gaming Total $40,557,472 Federal $65,100 State $40,492,372
4 Morongo Band of Mission Indians Total $39,063,909 Federal $600,312 State $38,463,597
5 Community Financial Services Assn Total $34,841,693 Federal $198,760 state $34,642,933
6 Service Employees International Union Total 30,405,549 Federal $2,921,463 State $27,484,086
7 National Assn of Realtors Total $28,788,109 Federal $4,888,640 State$23,899,469
8 Lakes Entertainment Total $25,694,898 Federal $2,000 State$25,692,898
9 Tribes for fair Play Total 24,754,413 Federal $0 State $24,754,413
10 ActBlue Total $23,184,380 Federal $23,184,380 State $0
Federal PAC Contributions 2010 Election Cycle http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/list.php
Unions Total Amount: $63,665,882
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate Total Amount: $62,909,712
Ideological/Single-Issue Total Amount: $60,279,974
Health Total Amount: $54,641,685
Misc business Associations Total Amount: $37,791,850
Energy & Natural Resources Total Amount: $28,858,057
Agribusiness Total Amount: $22,950,208
Transportation Total Amount: $21,118,906
Lawyers & Lobbyists Total Amount: $15,916,526
Construction Total Amount: $15,534,354
Defense Total Amount: $14,263,964
This little propaganda piece left out the total of all corporations, imagine that? I guess that's not important to the simple-minded
Did this come from fox news? It reeks of their “fair and balanced” style of propaganda
Not Fox
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If you want truly understand what these numbers mean. You have to know how many personal contributions created the totals
A contribution from a union will be made up of millions of small contributions by union workers. It is against federal law for unions to make political contributions from dues money. I all comes Through PAL or PAC funds that the individual member voluntarily donates to.
If a trade association donates money it usually is bigger chunks of money from a much small group of people. They are employers. They are very few compared to workers
If Goldman Sachs donates money it is not approved by the stock holders. It is approved the board and CEO 8-10 people (figure the dollar per donor on that) As a matter of fact they should follow the same rules and unions. They should not be able to use stockholder money for political gain
It’s the dollar per person that tells the tale. Don’t be misled by a post that will create the misperceptions
This list compares “groups” to “single corporations”. Add up all the contributions of all the corporations and then get back to me. It will be huge eye opener
Not exactly true. Neither corporations or labor organizations may make contributions or expenditures from corporate or union funds in connection with federal elections. They establish PACs. Corporate and labor PACs raise contributions from affiliated individuals and use those funds to support federal candidates and political committees FEC Campaign Guide: http://www.fec.gov/pdf/colagui.pdf
Why didn't you include the total contributions from all corporations in your totals section?
Excluding them is completely dishonest and makes your whole post irrelevant in terms of validity
I posted a link to an exhaustive database where anyone can find that information.I'm not going to assemble a database of every dollar attributable to every single special interest group, but I feel I did provide a link where that information and more is available.
That a cop out. You left out the part that tells all and now you want others to go find it.
You should delete this piece of propaganda in order to save your credibility
How is this propaganda? I posted no opinions, solely a database of top funding sources in numerical order with a link to my source.
Did you read any of my previous post?
Anybody can see the false message that people are suppose walk away with
Put the total of all corporations, like you did the other groups and it will be the true message.
If you don't comprehend that maybe a high school kid could help you out
I assume you are speaking of the PAC list. The PAC list is broken down by industry on the website and that is what I relayed. If you want, no one is stopping you from publishing the individual PAC activity of every single corporation, union, ideological issue etc.
If you click on the detail you will see that this is not how much money each company gave. Its the total of PACs, individual employees, and soft money came from that category. I work for AT&T, if I donate to a political cause I have to report to the government my employer and I get included in the totals above. The problem is not that there is too much money. Its that individuals are not giving to politicians who represent them. Instead they are watching American Idol. The answer is not to limit political donations, but to get the average citizen paying attention.
Of course. Corporations are not allowed to use corporate funds for campaign donations. Neither corporations or labor organizations may make contributions or expenditures from corporate or union funds in connection with federal elections. They establish PACs. Corporate and labor PACs raise contributions from affiliated individuals and use those funds to support federal candidates and political committees FEC Campaign Guide: http://www.fec.gov/pdf/colagui.pdf
Good point. I posted one similar before I read you
What I find disturbing is that my Congressman may look at these numbers and see that a certain amount comes from Big Company X and think that that is a mandate to support regulation in favor of Big Company X. Why are all of my donations categorized based on who I work for? I give to political causes that support freedom, not my employer.
That's not how it works. Your personal contribution does not have to be lumped in as your employer's See the following guide by the FEC. http://www.fec.gov/pdf/colagui.pdf
My view is that this list was created to make it seem like corporations donate the least amount of money. Any “fool” can see that all these special interest groups donate more that corporations (not)
The list shows totals for most groups but it “excludes” the “group of all corporations” that would make the rest of the donors pale by comparison
people are surprised to see unions on there?
I was just going over your list mate.
I have noticed that out of the top 10 on the list, 6 are labor unions.
Out of the top 20 on the list, 13 are labor unions.
By reading through the many forums on this site, there seems to be a large amount of people who want to get money out of politics.
Does this include removing the political influence of labor unions?
Thanks. Cheers mate.
obviously if OWS is serious and not another hypocrit, that would have to apply to unions, as well.
I believe the influence of money in politics from any and all special interests should be reduced to the greatest extent possible, but that's just me.
plus the billions that are done under the table.
this government is corrupt- they won't allow the publishing of real numbers. they will tell you only what they want you to see.
Unions are not a problem though...nooooo...how much have the donated to OWS?
why so many casinos and native americans
Don't know. I would imagine they (a) are backing candidates who they feel would be helpful in expanding legalized casinos and (b) are staying politically active to ensure no threat to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act or any Tribal state compacts
Or its an easy way to turn cash into a political donation... you know for those interests that need to remain anonymous...
Then wouldn't they be much higher on all the lists?
Sure.
Its casino gaming money. Legal Indian Casino Gambling which is totally uncorrupted and on the up and up. Just good old fashioned folks playing slots generates that much influence in Washington.