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posted July 24, 2009
The Information Super Buy-Way
by Edwin Bender & Denise Roth Barber, National Institute on Money in State Politics
I took particular
note of the below article after hearing that Joseph Mallahan, a vice
president at T-Mobile, has joined the race for Seattle Mayor. —Ed.
As broadband internet access becomes
an increasingly important part of our everyday lives, communications
companies that provide this service have become increasingly involved
in politics by contributing to state-level candidates and hiring thousands
of state-level lobbyists. A new report from the National Institute on
Money in State Politics (FollowTheMoney.org) <www.followthemoney.org/press/
The report <www.followthemoney.org/press/
AT&T and Verizon contributed the most to candidates, state party committees and ballot measures, giving $14.8 million and $10.7 million respectively, followed by Qwests $1.9 million.
The majority of the money (78 percent or $22 million) was given in 10 states: California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, South Dakota, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Missouri. California received the lions share, $8.2 million.
Contributions to candidates accounted for $14.5 million of the total contributions made by these companies, divided almost equally between parties. Republican candidates received $7.6 million; Democratic candidates $6.8 million.
Communications companies gave $6 million to state Republican parties and $3.5 million to state Democratic parties. The companies also contributed $4.1 million between 2004 and 2007 in hopes of influencing the outcome of ballot measures in 14 states.
The political work didn’t stop after the elections. The five communications companies hired more than 2,600 lobbyists. AT&T hired the most (1,373) and US Cellular hired the fewest (26).
The nonprofit, nonpartisan
FollowTheMoney.org collects and analyzes campaign contribution information
for state-level candidates, political party committees, and ballot committees.
Its free, searchable database of contributions is available online at
FollowTheMoney.org. <www.followthemoney.org/index.