Public Citizen's Congress Watch looks at lobbyist donations

[swag]

Economist Mark Thoma bullets the executive summary of Public Citizen's Congress Watch study on lobbyists

Executive Summary

- Lobbyists have given more than $100 million to members of Congress since 1998.
- The percentage of lobbyists making personal contributions is small.
- Just over 6 percent of lobbyists account for more than four-fifths of the money lobbyists have contributed to members of Congress since 1998.
- Just 0.2 percent of lobbyists account for than 13 percent of the money lobbyists have contributed to members of Congress since 1998.
- Lobbyists’ contributions are on the rise.
- Lobbyists’ have given more to Republicans than Democrats since 1998.
- Thirty-six members of Congress have received a half-million dollars or more from lobbyists and their PACs since 1998.
- Many lobbyists give heavily to both parties.
- Some former-members-turned-lobbyists become big contributors.
- Several big-donor lobbyists raised $100,000 or more for Bush or Kerry.
- Personal contributions from lobbyists are just the tip of the iceberg.



From a WSJ article on the study, Thoma highlight's this finding:

The highest ranking lobbyist-donor on Public Citizen’s Top Ten list is Stewart Van Scoyoc, whose firm specializes in appropriations. Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in January guilty to trying to bribe lawmakers — but still ranked 30th in the Public Citizen study.

[swag]

1. Santorum is number one in receiving lobbyist funds:

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/003419.html

[crickets]

2. Institutionalized bribery and graft. Sickening. nt