Campaign contributions are critical tools that individuals and political action committees use in an attempt to support, influence and gain access to federal politicians.

And often, special interests making these contributions also spend significant sums of money hiring professional lobbyists to do their bidding on Capitol Hill.

In an effort to illustrate these connections, the Center for Responsive Politics today adds a small but powerful feature to the campaign money donor sections within the OpenSecrets.org money-in-politics profiles for every member of Congress.

Yellow flags appearing next to organizations name indicate that the organizations listed have also lobbied the federal government using professional lobbyists.

Red flags indicate lobbyists who represent the listed organizations have personally donated money to the member of Congress being profiled.

“This feature helps concerned citizens deepen their understanding of political influence efforts — at a glance,” said Sheila Krumholz, the Center for Responsive Politics’ executive director.

The Center expects to enhance this new feature in coming months.

Click the image below — House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is used as an example — to view the new OpenSecrets.org feature:



For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: [email protected]

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