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.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:22PM (2 children)
Maybe. Maybe not. But perhaps an underlying problem is there are too many who cannot afford that 'something else'. I can afford 'something else'. But those who cannot go to the ER for trivial treatments. Thus the cost radically increases for those of us who can afford 'something else'.
Or Republicans could give the poor people a free coupon to see Dr. Kevorkian [wikipedia.org]. Good for one free office visit.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @05:56PM (1 child)
I could afford something else if I had the money that was stolen from me under the pretense of providing me health care just over the past few years.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 12 2017, @06:25PM
The ACA is a pile of garbage only slightly better than the previous setup. As has been stated many times, if you believe all taxation is theft then you're not fit for society. Sadly we don't have a re-education camp to send you to /s