Some lawmakers are among those grappling with the news of Steve Jobs’ retirement as the chief executive officer of Apple.

Three dozen members of Congress held stock in Apple in 2009, the most recent year for which data is available, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics. That makes it one of the most popular assets among all congressional investors.

Collectively, these 36 lawmakers owned at least $1.8 million in Apple stock, with the holdings of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accounting for about 55 percent of this sum.

Because lawmakers are only required to disclose the value of their assets in broad ranges, their collective Apple stock could be worth as much as $7 million.

The value of Pelosi’s Apple holdings alone ranged from $1 million to $5 million.

After Pelosi, Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) held the most stock in Apple, at $198,500. And Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) ranked third, with between $65,000 and $150,000 in Apple stock, according to the Center’s research.

The median value of Apple stock held by these three dozen lawmakers was between $15,000 and $50,000. Overall, 23 Republicans had stock in Apple in 2009, while only 13 Democrats did.

Here is a table of all 36 of these lawmakers’ holdings in Apple in 2009.

Name Min. Value Max. Value Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D) $1,000,001 $5,000,000 Rep. James B. Renacci (R) $198,543 $198,543 Sen. James Webb (D) $65,002 $150,000 Rep. Nan Hayworth (R) $50,001 $100,000 Sen. John Hoeven (R) $50,001 $100,000 Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R) $50,001 $100,000 Rep. Ed Whitfield (R) $50,001 $100,000 Rep. Dave Camp (R) $50,001 $100,000 Rep. Michael McCaul (R) $45,003 $150,000 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D) $45,003 $150,000 Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D) $30,002 $100,000 Rep. Ted Deutch (D) $30,002 $100,000 Sen. Kay R. Hagan (D) $19,005 $110,000 Sen. Ron Wyden (D) $15,001 $50,000 Rep. Jeff Flake (R) $15,001 $50,000 Sen. Tom Carper (D) $15,001 $50,000 Sen. James M. Inhofe (R) $15,001 $50,000 Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D) $15,001 $50,000 Rep. Lamar Smith (R) $15,001 $50,000 Rep. Melvin L. Watt (D) $15,001 $50,000 Rep. Kenny Marchant (R) $11,800 $11,800 Sen. Mike Crapo (R) $5,057 $5,057 Rep. Tom Price (R) $4,425 $4,425 Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R) $3,003 $45,000 Rep. Hal Rogers (R) $2,530 $2,530 Rep. Connie Mack (R) $2,002 $30,000 Sen. Pat Roberts (R) $2,002 $30,000 Rep. David B. McKinley (R) $1,001 $15,000 Rep. Vernon Buchanan (R) $1,001 $15,000 Rep. Fred Upton (R) $1,001 $15,000 Rep. Paul Ryan (R) $1,001 $15,000 Sen. Kent Conrad (D) $1,001 $15,000 Rep. David Price (D) $1,001 $15,000 Rep. Brad Miller (D) $1,001 $15,000 Rep. Michael R. Turner (R) $1,001 $15,000 Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) $0 $1,000 Total: $1,826,400 $7,058,355

At the same time, Apple is on pace to spend more on lobbying this year than ever before.

During the first half of 2011, Apple spent $1.35 million on lobbying and employed 25 lobbyists.

In 1998, the first year for which the Center has data, Apple employed just two federal lobbyists and spent $180,000 on lobbying. Since then, the company has never spent more than $1.71 million per year on lobbying.

Last year, Apple spent $1.61 million on lobbying and employed 16 lobbyists.

The company still has a long way to go, though, if it hopes to catch industry giants such as Google and Microsoft in terms of lobbying expenditures. Google spent more than $5 million on lobbying last year, while Microsoft spent $6.9 million — more than any other company in the computer industry.

Apple does not operate a political action committee, but for his part, Jobs has been a prolific campaign donor.

According to research by the Center for Responsive Politics, Jobs has contributed $253,700 to federal candidates and committees between 1996 and 2006. Of that sum, 100 percent has benefited Democrats — including $167,500 to the Democratic National Committee.

Jobs has not made any campaign contributions since 2006, and he did not make any donations prior to 1996. This amount doesn’t include the hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by Jobs’ wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, the co-founder and board president of College Track.

Meanwhile, Tim Cook, who has been elevated to serve as Apple’s CEO has donated only $2,300 to federal candidates or political committees over the years — all to President Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign, according to the Center’s research.

Center for Responsive Politics senior researcher Dan Auble contributed to this report.



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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