My Congresswoman came in last, and I'm so proud! Contributions from the financial sector.
http://www.opensecrets.org/...
Open Secrets has a new page up that looks at the last Congressional debate on bank regulation, the 1999 Financial Services Modernization Act. (The primary sponsors were Phil (nation of whiners) Gramm, Jim Leach, and Tom Bliley. It shows that campaign contributions may have influenced votes, and that ten years later, we're reaping the rewards of their votes.
I encourage you to visit that link, and read the very coherent explanation, as well as look at the graphs, and the donations. There's a chart that shows all of the donations from the financial sector from 1989 - 2008 for everyone currently serving in Congress. The chart also shows their votes.
So, with a drumroll and a flourish:
NH Senator John E. Sununu received $2,888, 713 in donations from the financial sector during that time period. He voted in favor of Gramm, Leach, Bliley.
Senator Judd Gregg received $1,672,949 in contributions from the financial sector between 1989 - 2008. He voted in favor of Gramm, Leach, Bliley.
Our current NH Congresspeople weren't serving at the time of this vote.
Congressman Paul Hodes was at the lower part of the list, having received $363,025 in contributions from the financial sector.
There at the very bottom of the list was Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, who received less than any current member of the US Congress in donations from the financial sector. She's received all of $14,600. For coming in last and least - thanks Carol!
The weaker the money ties, the stronger my trust. Since my tax dollars are going to be bailing out corporate gamblers, I'm pleased to know that my Congresscritters are going to have the best interests of we the people's financial security firmly in their minds.