Sunlight Foundation Takes Another Look At Lobbyist Bundlers

The Sunlight Foundation released a video on Thursday highlighting its investigation of lobbyist bundlers with OpenSecrets.org.

The investigation, which looked at campaign contribution records and reports filed by lobbyists, revealed the extensive influence lobbyist bundlers -- or outside lobbyists who collect contributions from others and direct money to a particular candidate -- have over lawmakers.

Sen. Max Baucus is one of the biggest beneficiaries of bundler contributions, collecting donations from 37 outside lobbyists representing PhRMA and 36 outside lobbyists representing biotech giant Amgen from January 2007 to July 2009.

WATCH:

Comments

[JBVT]

As a working civilian, why don't have another fundraising effort for Maxie?

He'll accept all funds.

Wanna bet?

Have a nice day...

[roblabrousse]

Americans would rather eat and watch TV and just do their own thing . Pursue their right to freedom. But while doing this they are letting their freedom get more and more strangled by the likes of a Grassely, Baucus, McCain, Bachman, Cantor. These same Americans are pursuing their right to freedom. That is to exploit their power for their own means and egos. Political thought and civic concern are not the American pass times. We do not grow up with a strong sense of engagement in discussing politics in this country. We are not across the board a people who worry about what our government until the party music stops cold and we realize we're out of chips and beer. Say like when a devastating recession occurs. Most of us do not have a sense of political responsibility and awareness. We expect these babysitters, the legislators to take good care of us. But we all know that the babysitter can sometimes get up to shirking his/her resposibility or even get up to some hi jinks of their own. Or even act irresponsibly and only act out because their charges are "asleep". We live in a country of overweight and self centered people.Of people who would sacrifice your or my safety for their own purpose. Let's not kid ourselves we're just as guilty as a Max Baucus or any of the others.We're letting them do their self-serving deeds as we eat and drink watching it happen.

[layman]

Something that's outrightly wrong, immoral, or obviously criminal in other cultures or foreign lands ; however, the US goverment and it's people let it perpetuate for decades with no real anger, and uproar, The populace must have been desensitized or have got used to governmental frauds and corruptions. Or people may be occupied by too many football games and other games on TV, People have become paralysed, corporate sports serving as a massive mind control mechanism to enable corporate / government conspired public looting.

[windup]

This should be shown on television. Preferably on FOX news.

[Okieborn]

Baucus should be guilty of robbery and conflict of interest !!
Fire The Je** !!!!

[Okieborn]

Might I ask Why is Baucus still allowed as chairman, when everyone know he is being paid off by Pharma and Insurance companies !!
Where is our DOJ ????

[Guitar63]

Or for that matter, where is human morality?

[cal5000]

its legal dude, simmer down now.

[tedpikul]

Justice Scalia gets very very angry when we try to restrict this sort of bribery.

[research]

Contributions are Bribery.

[Peaceisnecessary]

Who is going to pass the law that says "If you are getting money from Lobbyist, you have to abstain from passing any laws that are a conflict of interest?" Isn't there already a conflict of interest law?

[toxicbrainpoison]

I know these fools should be facing corruption charges.

[tbone99]

Wonderful research - needs wide distribution.

What I don't get is that now cities also hire lobbyists , at approximately $ 100,000 a year salary ( at least thats whats El Paso paying) . So what is our Congressional rep for?

[clancy11]

Max Baucus is a disgrace as an American and a human being.

[bzb]

Love both sites.

[austin4]

Max Baucus, has got to go. This man is not a Democrat, and has never been one. He was to close to the Bushwacker for 8 years, and regard of the state that he is from, is BAD for the Democratic Party.

[MighteeAphrodite]

Constituents have an obligation to unseat incumbents who place lobbyist interests before viable health care reform.

Families first.

Vote 2010. 2014.

[GaryNMaine]

I agree. It is time for Americans to start paying closer attention to how their reps vote and get rid of those who are not voting in the best interests of their constituents.