Interest Group Internet Scavenger Hunt Project

Cesiah Prado Period 5 March 20, 2014

Industries that supported the Democrats and the Republicans

Industries that supported the Democrats Retired Securities/Invest Real Estate Amount they donated Industries that supported the Republicans Retired Securities/Invest Real Estate Amount they donated

Lawyers/Law Firms $39,166,888 $21,163,749 $16,590,957 $15,288,942

Lawyers/Law Firms $16,355,001 $30,748,409 $24,006,376 $18,818,494

Health Professionals $16,760,971

Health Professionals $25,224,408

www.opensecrets.org

Health Services/HMO (insurance)

Top 4 members of congress that received contributions Top 3 contributors to Federal Candidates and Parties

Name
Orrin G. Hatch (Utah) Max Baucus (Montana) Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) Charles W Boustany Jr. (Louisiana)

Amount
$304,980 $236,219 $228,950 $201,900

Organizations

Amount

Blue Shield/Blue Cross

United Health Group Express Scripts

$1,475,439
$4,433,998 $871,854

The trends that I observed about how this industry spends on lobbyists is that in 1998 the spending increased until 2009 when the spending started to lower.

www.opensecrets.org

Lobbying
The trends that I observed in the number of lobbyists and the amount of money spent on lobbying is that the number of lobbyist has increased and the amount they have spent has decreased.
Top 5 Interest Groups

Spenders US Chamber of Commerce

Amount $74,470,000

National Association of Realtors

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Northrop Grumman National Cable & Telecommunities Association

$38,584,580
$22,510,280 $20,590,000 $19,870,000

www.opensecrets.org

Lobbying (continued)
Functions of the interest groups that have spent the most money on lobbying so far in 2013.

Interest Group US Chamber of Commerce

Function A business federation representing companies, business associations, state and local chambers in the U.S and American Chambers of Commerce abroad. The largest trade association and one of the most powerful lobbying groups in North America, having spent more than $99 million between 1999 and 2012. The association operates several business initiatives in support of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies and represents the Blue System in national forums. An American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop . The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010. www.opensecrets.org

National Association of Realtors

Blue Cross/ Blue Shield

Northrop Grumman

Lobbying (continued)
Top 3 Lobbying firms

Firms Patton Boggs LLP Akin, Gump et al Podesta Group

Amount $39,800,000 $33,730,000 $27,180,000

Article: American People Hire High-Powered Lobbyist To Push Interests In Congress

Summary: the American people hired lobbyist Jack Weldon in hopes that he will advance their agenda in Congress. Weldon said that it will be a challenge because they lack the money and power of other groups. However, everyone believes that he will be able to give the American people a voice in the Legislative process. What message is the author trying to convey?: The author is trying to say that the American people need someone in the inside who can make sure to fulfill all of their concerns and needs when new laws are being created. www.opensecrets.org www.theonion.com/articles

The Revolving Door

-The idea behind the phrase is that there is a revolving door between two sectors where there is movement of high level employees from public sector jobs to private sector jobs and vice versa. -I think Trent Lott was hired to become a lobbyist because he had experience for serving in numerous leadership positions in both the United States House of Representatives and the Senate. -Tom Daschle fits the profile of someone who has utilized the revolving door because since he has been in the political scen e he has transitioned from several job positions.

Pros and Cons of the Revolving Door

Pros Responsive government that doesnt need to fully train each new legislator or regulatory member.

Cons Elected and appointed officials working in government may use their time in office to generate connections with legislators they can call on as contacts after they enter the private sector. Businesses can send members of its companies to alter policy and regulations to its benefits. www.opensecrets.org

Businesses have the luxury to hiring people with firsthand knowledge of the law.

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Political Action Committees (PAC) are groups that focus on raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. Top 5 PACs in 2008

PACs National Association of Realtors

Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers AT&T Inc. American Bankers Association National Beer Wholesalers Association

Amount $4,036,400
$3,397,550 $3,153,200 $2,956,265 $2,897,000

Leadership PACs are committees created by politicians. During their campaign they raise two sets of money, one for themselves and the other one is to help other politicians. They use this to bribe their colleagues and to get a higher position.
www.opensecrets.org

Political Action Committees (PACs) (continued)

Top 5 Leadership PACs in 2010

Leadership PACs
Every Republican is Crucial PAC Freedom Project

Their Affiliate
Eric Cantor John A Boehner

Amount Spent
$1,734,146 $1,313,025 $1,274,000 $1,247,292 $1,169,500

AmeriPAC: The Fund for a Steny H. Hoyer Greater America Senate Conservatives Fund James W. DeMint BRIDGE PAC James E. Clyburn

www.opensecrets.org

527 Groups
-These groups are called 527 because they are a type of U.S tax-exempt organization organized under Section 527 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
-In 2004 the 52 organization receipt was at $600,000,000 but, in 2006 it began to decrease until it was at $496,434,561 in 2008. however, in 2010 it increased to $547,134,744 and then went up to $547,851,976 in 2012. -The Choice- Obama for America TV Ad was definitely created and paid by a 527 organization because it showed Mitt Romneys position on an issue and then suggested a better solution by Obama to grow the economy without necessarily saying who to vote for.

www.opensecrets.org www.youtube.com

The Top 11 Things Every Voter Should Know About Money-In-Politics

1.
Individuals and interest groups will give campaign contributions to politicians in the best position to deliver what theyre looking for.

2.
3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Incumbents nearly always win.

The cost of hiring a House incumbent candidate increased since 1974 but then lowered in 2010. Small donors make good press and big donors get politicians re-elected. Insurance industry, banks, investment firms and real estate. An interest group wants friendly access to lawmakers on a host of issues that may emerge many times over the course of their careers. There is so much pressure for members of congress to constantly be fundraising because the money they raise is for their next reelection campaign. One reason why the FEC is considered weak is because the agency often takes years to resolve complaints.

9.
10. 11.

The court overturned a ban on corporate and union involvement in federal elections that had been in effect since the early 1900s.
An independent expenditure is an expenditure for a communication which expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate, but which is made independently of any candidates campaign. Interest group ratings are used to decide whos going to get more contributions in the next re-lecetion and whos not.

www.opensecrets.org