Spiritual Forum

Friday, 07 October 2011 18:12

Sunlight Foundation reveals 10 committee members were given $83,000 in contributions in 20 days after their appointment.

Members of the congressional committee charged with making one of the most sensitive economic decisions facing America, a $1.2tn cut in the federal budget, have received a series of donations from the defence, pharmaceutical, oil and other industries, figures have revealed.

The Sunlight Foundation, a non-partisan organisation aimed at greater transparency in government, published donations to 10 members since they were appointed in August to the congressional super-committee with responsiblity for recommending cuts and possible tax increases over the next ten years. Their decisions, due to be announced by 23 November, could be worth millions of dollars to the specific industries.

Another group campaigning for greater transparency, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called for donations to members to be halted for the short period they serve on the committee, so their eventual decisions will not be treated as suspect.

The super-committee, made up of six Democrats and six Republicans, was appointed as part of a compromise between Congress and the White House aimed at resolving a month-long political standoff in Washington.

Sunlight, based on declarations of donations filed by members of Congress to the Federal Election Commission, found that 19 of the biggest political donors in the country gave $83,000 to the campaigns of 10 members since their appointment to the super-committee. The remaining two members, Democratic senator Patty Murray and Republican senator Jon Kyl, took no donations.

The donors included defence giant Lockheed Martin, drug company Pfizer, oil company Chevron and the National Association of Realtors, as well as the Teamsters union.

Sunlight described the figures as a snapshot, covering 20 days until the end of August, with figures for the whole of September available on October 15.

Bill Allison, editorial director of Sunlight, said on Thursday the public had a right to know if there was a conflict of interest. "I think that the committee is doing a lot of its work in the dark, and we know that lobbyists are trying to influence the process. We should at least know who is giving these members of Congress money, and who is meeting with them to influence their decisons."

He called on the filings of donations to be made daily rather than monthly. "If you know in real time whether a union or a defence company contractor is getting special attenton, there is a chance to react to it."

According to Sunlight, Republican congressman Dave Camp received $26,500, Democratic senator Max Baucus $10,000, Democratic congressman Xavier Becerra $15,000, Democratic congressman James Clyburn $9,000, Republican congressman Jeb Hensarling $3,000, Democratic senator John Kerry $8,930, Republican senator Rob Portman $4,500, Republican senator Pat Toomey $1,000, Republican congressman Fred Upton $5,000, and Democratic congressman Chris van Hollen $1,000.

Camp, the biggest recipient, received donations from American Crystal Sugar, Comcast, Federal Express, Goldman Sachs, Lockheed Martin and Pfizer.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) pointed out that it had sent a letter to Congress in August expressing concern and calling on the members to refuse donations during their period of service on the committee.

Crew executive director Melanie Sloan said at the time: "Americans need to have confidence that the solutions offered by the super-committee represent the best interest of all Americans, not just committee members' biggest donors."

Source: Guardian.co.uk

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