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posted by takyon on Tuesday December 12 2017, @01:33AM   Printer-friendly
from the 535-101 dept.

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow8317

All 535 members of Congress, and how much money they got from ISPs

In March, we published a story that showed contributions from the ISP industry to members of Congress who voted to repeal a landmark FCC privacy rule, opening the door to the sale of customer data. It was one of our most popular stories of the year, and many of you asked why we only published contributions to some members of Congress. Incidentally, every one of the 265 members who voted for the measure in March were Republicans. And many of those same members endorse the effort to end net neutrality.

But it's fair to want to see monetary influence across all of Congress. While it is clear that alignment with the ISPs is currently drawn along party lines, the industry's attempt to gain favor with lawmakers is not partisan. Entrenched telecommunications companies liberally spread money and attention to everyone who holds office. Sometimes that influence comes in the form of lavish parties with Olympic athletes and lobbyists, but consistently it comes in the form of contributions to campaigns.

It's impossible to quantify the overall influence of this powerful industry, but we can chart some of it.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) leads the Senate with $2,554,784. Following him are Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) ($1,692,749), Roy Blunt (R-MO) ($1,283,416), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) ($1,119,163), Bill Nelson (D-FL) ($1,028,790), and Senate Minority Leader Charles E Schumer (D-NY) ($984,757).

In the House, Representative Greg Walden (R-OR02) received $1,605,986, followed by Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI06) ($1,590,125), Steny H Hoyer (D-MD05) ($1,429,710), Joe Barton (R-TX06) ($1,262,757), John M Shimkus (R-IL15) ($1,044,204), and James E Clyburn (D-SC06) ($1,030,550).

In the Senate, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) took the least from the telecom industry at just $40,219. In the House, Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH08) took just $15 (muffins? flowers? bus fare?) and the next guy up the list took $1,040.


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  • (Score: 2, Offtopic) by Arik on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:52AM (3 children)

    by Arik (4543) on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:52AM (#608654) Journal
    That's still a non-sequitur. We were talking about McCain, not Trump. Trump's issues are not relevant to McCains in any way that is readily apparent, and you haven't provided any rationale otherwise. You appear to be making an utterly transparent attempt to change the topic.

    Was it making you uncomfortable?
    --
    If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
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  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday December 12 2017, @06:03AM (2 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday December 12 2017, @06:03AM (#608656) Journal

    We were talking about McCain, not Trump.

    Nope, we were talking about heath care in US, with McCain's position as a particular case.
    Was it making you uncomfortable in the topic?

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Arik on Tuesday December 12 2017, @06:11AM (1 child)

      by Arik (4543) on Tuesday December 12 2017, @06:11AM (#608659) Journal
      "Was it making you uncomfortable in the topic?"

      Not at all, only a little unsettling when the topic seems to have been shifted abruptly and for no apparent reason.

      Going back and re-reading your post several times doesn't render it any less abrupt. On the surface it appears, and I pick this word carefully, *senseless* - I can find no sense in it.

      "As opposed to a certain orange character, which works restlessly to make sure the 'little people' have no choice at all... and yet the orange one should not be shamed for it."

      This sure seems like a part of a conversation which we were not having. Hence why I initially thought you might have replied to the wrong post. It's not inconceivable someone in another branch of the thread I had not read had argued that Trump shouldn't be shamed, but no, you confirmed it was sent to me.

      It's just not responsive to anything I've said.

      If you're doing drugs you might want to tone down the dose just a tad.
      --
      If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:42PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:42PM (#608813)

        Let us all just agree that Trump and McCain are both dirtbags. McCain seems to have a streak of honor left in his dark soul, but it is too infrequently called upon. It seems clear McCain is too old with a bit of dementia creeping up, but that isn't a very good excuse. Trump is just garbage, from start to finish.