Report: McCain’s Lobbyists Make Half a Billion Dollars; McCain Campaign “Embedded” In Big Money Lobbyist Culture
Washington, DC – A new research report released today by Campaign Money Watch, a campaign finance watchdog group, paints the big picture of how deeply dependent Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is on powerful Washington lobbying firms, and the huge financial stake these lobbyists and their firms have in the outcome of the election.
Titled EMBEDDED OR IN BED? John McCain and His Lobbyist Problem, the report lays out the financial entanglements and other relationships that exist between McCain and his cadre of 118 lobbyists who have represented some of America’s largest corporations – many of which have had business before the Senate Commerce Committee McCain once chaired – but now find themselves advising, staffing and raising money for McCain’s presidential campaign. EMBEDDED can be viewed online at http://www.campaignmoney.org/mccain.
“This report shows, in plain language and very large numbers, that John McCain has become dependent on high-powered lobbyists who know a McCain victory in November would be their meal ticket to continued prosperity,” said David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. “These lobbyists, and the clients they represent, have fueled McCain’s campaign, yet he refuses to support comprehensive solutions to the big money that drives up the cost of campaigning and leads to corrupting the public policy making process. Apparently McCain is afraid of biting the hands that feed his campaign.”
Among EMBEDDED’s findings:
- One hundred and eighteen lobbyists aiding McCain’s campaign have received $496 million in lobbying contracts from domestic clients since 1998.
The report relied on data obtained from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, an organization that tracks campaign finance contributions and lobbying expenses of firms representing domestic clients. In addition, Campaign Money Watch utilized data from Public Citizen’s WhiteHouseForSale.org website. The organization also reviewed other publicly available data. Recent news stories have explained the loopholes in reporting expenses associated with foreign lobbying, and legislation is being introduced in the Senate to address the loopholes.
“EMBEDDED underscores one explanation for John McCain’s retreat from past support for comprehensive campaign finance reform,” Donnelly said. “He’s relying on those who trade money-for-favors – the very same interests who would have the most to lose if public financing were implemented. If any doubts remain over whether John McCain has fully embraced Washington’s big money lobbyist crowd, or whether they’ve fully embraced him, this report will put them to rest.”
Campaign Money Watch is a project of the nonpartisan Public Campaign Action Fund. The organization works to hold candidates who are against reform accountable for where they get their political donations. It recently launched FireTheLobbyists.com to urge McCain to sever his ties with the big-money lobbyists that run and fund his campaign.