Here’s how much corporations paid US senators to fast-track the TPP bill

[99th_Monkey]

Here’s how much corporations paid US senators to fast-track the TPP bill
Critics of the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership are unlikely to be silenced by an analysis of the flood of money it took to push the pact over its latest hurdle
by C Robert Gibson and Taylor Channing * The Guardian * 5/27/15

~snip~

* Out of the total $1,148,971 given, an average of $17,676.48 was donated to each of the 65 “yea” votes.
* The average Republican member received $19,673.28 from corporate TPP supporters.
* The average Democrat received $9,689.23 from those same donors.

The amounts given rise dramatically when looking at how much each senator running for re-election received.

Two days before the fast-track vote, Obama was a few votes shy of having the filibuster-proof majority he needed. Ron Wyden and seven other Senate Democrats announced they were on the fence on 12 May, distinguishing themselves from the Senate’s 54 Republicans and handful of Democrats as the votes to sway.

In just 24 hours, Wyden and five of those Democratic holdouts – Michael Bennet of Colorado, Dianne Feinstein of California, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Patty Murray of Washington, and Bill Nelson of Florida – caved and voted for fast-track.

Bennet, Murray, and Wyden – all running for re-election in 2016 – received $105,900 between the three of them. Bennet, who comes from the more purple state of Colorado, got $53,700 in corporate campaign donations between January and March 2015, according to Channing’s research.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/27/corporations-paid-us-senators-fast-track-tpp

[djean111]

1. And there are those who wonder why people don't bother to vote any more.

Well, I will not be voting for Nelson.
Can't wait, in a sadly horrified way, to see who votes for Fast Track in the House.

I am also beginning to wonder why people are asked to donate to most politicians - looks like the politicians do just fine with corporate payola.

[MohRokTah]

2. Apparently, the Guardian has no clue how campaign donations work in the States.

When you donate, you must list your employer.

The Guardian has compiled a list of employers from individual donors.

It is illegal for corporations to make direct donations to federal campaigns.

[99th_Monkey]

3. So what are you saying exactly?

That's the donors "just happened" to be giving hand-over-fist when TPP was on the table?

What exactly is inaccurate about these numbers? Anything?

[MohRokTah]

4. Individual donors who work for corporations.

You can make any correlation you like WRT any politician with a compiled list of employers of donors.

It says nothing whatsoever and is merely a red herring used to try to support a viewpoint. It has no bearing at all.

My employer had to be listed when I donated to Obama. It says nothing about my employer's influence on Obama's decisions.

[99th_Monkey]

5. So like I said, these donors "just happened" to be making these donations

when TPP fast-track was in critical hours of voting.

Haven't you heard? There are no "accidents".

[MohRokTah]

6. #1, the Guardian presented no corroborating evidence for that specific claim

#2, there is no way to tell they would be making those donations during the critical hours of voting as that information is only revealed in monthly FEC reports. There is no time stamp on donations.

Like I said, a complete red herring.