Who Owns Your Congressman?

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Source: Masters-in-Accounting.org

Politics is big business, with millions spent each year trying to sway the electoral process. Which industries, businesses and outside interests have donated the most to which candidates?

How Much Money Are We Talking About?

In short, lots. Here’s a look at what candidates in 2013-2014 have raised for this election cycle:

House

Total $289,091,174*

Democrats $125,189,570

Republicans $163,856,570

Senate

Total $152,410,147*

Democrats $81,976,934

Republicans $70,387,430

* Independents not included in party breakdowns

Their combined fundraising is $441,501,321. That’s enough to …

… pay the average heating bills of every resident of the District of Columbia

… pay the average co-pays for 22 million doctor visits

… pay the average grocery bill for 400,000 four-person families

Following the Money

Where does all this cash come from? Here’s a look at which industries have given the most to which parties:

Industry Amount D R

Retired $38,883,345 47% 46%

Securities & investment $32,988,928 31% 55%

Lawyers& law firms $24,522,332 68% 28%

Real estate $18,005,439 41% 53%

Health professionals $16,335,505 39% 55%

Candidate committees $16,214,155 45% 55%

Insurance $11,989,733 38% 62%

Leadership PACs $11,491,828 43% 57%

Oil & gas $9,895,507 12% 86%

Business services $8,482,996 48% 44%

TV/movies/music $8,374,264 63% 34%

Lobbyists $8,016,021 49% 50%

Pharmaceutical/health $7,875,015 40% 60%

Public sector unions $7,647,169 52% 5%

Manufacturing/distribution $7,298,056 30% 68%

Building trade unions $6,976,125 57% 11%

Commercial banks $6,887,181 30% 70%

Computers/Internet $6,821,386 53% 36%

Electric utilities $6,631,879 36% 64%

Here’s a look at the 20 businesses and organizations that contributed the most for lobbying efforts in 2013:

Business/organization Lobbying total

U.S. Chamber of Commerce $51,955,000

National Assn. of Realtors $25,943,435

Blue Cross/Blue Shield $17,076,780

American Hospital Assn. $14,106,478

Comcast Corp. $13,950,000

General Electric $13,840,000

Pharmaceutical Rsrch & Mfrs of America $13,802,500

American Medical Assn. $13,775,000

National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. $13,270,000

Northrop Grumman $13,200,000

AT&T Inc. $12,300,000

Boeing Co. $11,460,000

Google Inc. $11,460,000

Lockheed Martin $11,117,466

National Assn. of Broadcasters $10,650,000

Exxon Mobil $10,630,000

Verizon Communications $10,143,000

United Technologies $9,980,373

American Chemistry Council $9,490,000

Grocery Manufacturers Assn. $9,350,000

Where It Goes

Here’s a look at some of the Congressional candidates who’ve raised the most money:

House

John Boehner, R-Ohio

Total: $9,074,336

Top contributing industries (donations to campaign committee, 2013-2014)

Industry Total Individuals PACs

Retired $496,367 $496,367 $0

Securities & investment $441,355 $381,355 $60,000

Oil & gas $249,189 $164,189 $85,000

Real estate $200,600 $188,600 $12,000

Electric utilities $164,000 $75,500 $88,500

Frank Pallone, D-N.J.

Total: $3,831,722

Top contributing industries (donations to campaign committee, 2013-2014)

Industry Total Individuals PACs

Health professionals $249,550 $35,050 $214,500

Pharmaceuticals & health products $84,000 $6,500 $77,500

Lawyers & law firms $66,750 $45,250 $21,500

Lobbyists $42,550 $40,550 $2,000

TV/movies/music $40,800 $15,450 $25,350

Senate

Cory Booker, D-N.J.

Total: $12,867,688

Top contributing industries (donations to campaign committee, 2009-2014)

Industry Total Individuals PACs

Securities & investment $1,197,642 $1,197,642 $0

Lawyers & law firms $1,027,702 $976,207 $51,495

Real estate $476,450 $471,450 $5,000

TV/movies/music $366,780 $359,180 $7,600

Miscellaneous finance $260,250 $260,250 $0

Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Total: $17,246,609

Top contributing industries (donations to campaign committee, 2009-2014)

Industry Total Individuals PACs

Securities & investment $1,129,038 $883,538 $245,500

Insurance $760,525 $311,025 $449,500

Health professionals $649,025 $413,525 $235,500

Retired $644,157 $644,157 $0

Oil & gas $621,258 $367,259 $253,999

Worth the Money?

With more than $400 million spent in this election cycle on Congressional races, is this a wise investment? Maybe not, when you consider the lack of action lately in Congress.

Substantive public laws passed

2013 44

2007 120

Average 1999-2012 70

SOURCES:

http://www.opensecrets.org/

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/

http://crp.org