Spotlight on Congress

Feb. 9, 2012 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the STOCK Act today, which omits an amendment that requires those working in the so-called "political intelligence" trade to register as lobbyists. Interest groups from both Wall Street and K Street were opposed to the amendment.

U.S. House of Representatives (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011)

• Interest groups representing the Securities & investment industry have given a total of $18,780,724 to members of the U.S. House of Representatives. 
• Republican House members received a combined $11,367,220 in contributions connected to Securities & investment interest groups while Democrats have received $7,413,504.
• House Majority Leader Eric Cantor received $629,350; House Speaker John Boehner received $830,700; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi received $157,800; and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer received $136,150.

Feb. 8, 2012 - Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate agreed to the conference report on a bill that provides a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (HR 658). A main sticking point centered on labor issues -- in particular, changes to the National Mediation Board that would make it more difficult for airline and railway workers to unionize.

The measure was opposed by unions such as the Communications Workers of America, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The measure was supported by the Aerospace Industries Association, the Air Transport Association, and the Associated General Contractors of America.

U.S. Senate

• Interest groups that oppose this bill (Building trades unions, Teachers unions, Manufacturing unions, Railroad unions, etc.) gave 2.2 times as much on average to Senators who voted 'NO' ($180,640) as they gave to Senators who voted 'YES' ($83,649).
• Interest groups that support this bill (Public works, industrial & commercial construction, Builders associations, Aircraft manufacturers, Travel agents, etc.) gave 1.9 times as much on average to Senators who voted 'YES' ($134,065) as they gave to Senators who voted 'NO' ($71,362). 17 of the top 20 recipients of campaign contributions connected to interest groups that support this bill voted in favor of the measure.

U.S. House of Representatives

• Interest groups that oppose this bill (Building trades unions, Teachers unions, Manufacturing unions, Railroad unions, etc.) gave 5.9 times as much on average to House members who voted 'NO' ($100,072) as they gave to House members who voted 'YES' ($16,915). 18 of the top 20 recipients of campaign contributions connected to interest groups that oppose this bill voted against the measure.
• Interest groups that support this bill (Public works, industrial & commercial construction, Builders associations, Aircraft manufacturers, Travel agents, etc.) gave 1.5 times as much on average to House members who voted 'YES' ($33,973) as they gave to House members who voted 'NO' ($21,984).

Feb.

Feb. 6, 2012 - The Republicans in the House of Representatives unveiled a bill that would require convicted drunk drivers to use ignition interlocks in their cars. Ignition interlocks are devices that test the blood-alcohol level of the driver to ensure it is below legal limits before starting their cars. Interest groups representing the restaurant and beverage industries, such as the American Beverage Institute, have come out against the provision.

• Members of the US House of Representatives received 25 times as much from interest groups representing Restaurants & drinking establishments ($3,895,311), which oppose the ignition interlock language, as from interest groups representing Health & welfare policy ($155,408), which support the ignition interlock language, between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2011.

February 3, 2012 - On Jan. 23, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed another in a series of comments to the FCC opposing new rules that would require broadcast TV stations to post information online about the political ads they air.

• Members of the U.S. Senate received a total of $2,043,666 from interest groups representing Commercial TV & Radio Stations, with $383,423 coming from the National Association of Broadcasters and its employees (July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2011).
• Members of the U.S. House of Representatives received a total of $1,495,325 from interest groups representing Commercial TV & Radio Stations, with $549,450 coming from the National Association of Broadcasters and its employees (July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2011).