Around 40 percent of funds received by state senator Obama came from corporations, Political Action Committees (PACs), and unions. Obama’s Love/Hate Relationship With LobbyistsBy Cliff Montgomery – Dec. 4th, 2007Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) enjoyed playing basketball and poker with lobbyists during his stint as a state senator just a few years ago. He often took campaign contributions from these lobbyists, and sometimes worked with them in the writing of major legislation.Still, Obama became known as a principled man who would ask tough questions of lobbyists. While a state senator, he even helped pass a number of tough ethics laws to greatly reduce their influence in the people’s business.Now a Democratic presidential candidate and first-term United States senator, Obama has added to his reputation through tough, dead-on rhetoric which correctly describes how a wealthy few have far too much influence in our nation’s capital.The Illinois senator also has impressively sworn off Washington lobbyist donations for his presidential run, and has rightly slammed rival Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton for not doing likewise.”It’s time we had a president who tells the drug companies and the oil companies and the insurance industry that while they get a seat at the table in Washington, they don’t get to buy every chair. Not any more,” Obama declared earlier this year.But the senator from Illinois hasn’t always been so straightforward about the degenerative influence of lobbyists on American democracy.Around 40 percent of funds received by state senator Obama came from corporations, Political Action Committees (PACs), and unions–including groups with a monetary stake in bills sponsored by the state senator.For example, Obama is known by many to have sponsored bills addressing prescription drug and health care problems while a state senator. But it’s not as well known that he accepted $8,900 from various insurance groups, $5,650 from a number of health-related groups, and a $3,000 bribe–ahem, we mean “donation”–from a lobbyist speaking on behalf of drug companies while doing it.And those PACs? They were responsible for 8 percent of Obama’s $15 million war chest during his successful U.S. Senate run in 2004.Having said that, disclosure reports reveal that Obama often did not take meals or gifts from lobbyists. In fact, he even became instrumental in creating a state law finally limiting such bribes.When Obama did work directly with lobbyists, it was ordinarily for their aid in hammering out a bill’s specifics in extensive negotiations. During such actions, he sought the help of lobbyists representing many viewpoints.Obama sought their help when he added safeguards to Illinois’ death penalty system, and again when he worked to put an end to the use of racial profiling during traffic stops–two thorny subjects involving police officers. But all involved say that Obama seriously listened to their concerns, and even adopted their points when they provided an especially sound argument.While State Senator Obama did socialize with lobbyists, even the most friendly knew to expect sharp questions about the bills they supported.”When you walked into his office, you’d better have all the facts,” Michael Lieteau, a lobbyist who engaged in both poker and basketball games with Obama, told Associated Press (AP).Lieteau represents AT&T; the company gave Obama more than $5,200 through its PAC.But Obama was instrumental in passing two of the most stringent ethics laws in the history of the Illinois legislature. Both worked to reduce the power of state lobbyists.A 1998 law ended most lobbyist “donations” to lawmakers, including outright bribes given on state property.”Prior to that bill, if you wanted to give a legislator a car, you could,” Illinois Campaign for Political Reform Director Cynthia Canary told AP.”That probably is the most significant curb we’ve put on in this state, and he was a key part of that.”After becoming a U.S. senator, Obama soon became instrumental in the successful strengthening of federal ethics laws. National lawmakers now must tell the American people which lobbyists raising money for them are “bundling” the donations of several individuals. They also now must disclose any special projects they attempt to include in the budget.Obama has received kudos from many circles because of his ban on Washington lobbyist dollars for his presidential campaign.But his rule doesn’t ban all such contributions.Obama’s presidential campaign quietly accepts the donations of state-level lobbyists, as well as the business partners and relatives of federal lobbyists.The senator only adopted his ban on direct contributions from lobbyists after beginning his presidential run. Obama’s Hopefund political committee received around $125,000 from various PACs after he started his stint as a U.S. Senator, and the presidential hopeful’s Senate campaign committee freely accepted PAC “donations” until this year.Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? 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How Necessary Laws Are Killed These Days
Lawmakers generally only fight to protect the things they care about – and all too often, that just doesn’t include the lives of most of their constituents.
