Democrats Getting Paid

By Ken Silverstein

Last spring, with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, I wrote an item saying that for corporations and federal contractors looking for favors in Washington, it was hardly even worth buying a Democrat anymore. But the November 2006 Democratic victory changed all that. Political fundraising numbers were released last week and they show that during the first quarter of 2007, Democrats raised slightly more money overall ($47.7 million) than Republicans ($47.4 million). Compare that to the first quarter of 2003, when the GOP trounced the Democrats in the hunt for cash $54 million to $19 million.

Fundraising figures for key members of Congress are particularly striking. For example, during the entire 2005-2006 period Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland, then merely a member of the lowly minority party, raised a grand total of $2.3 million. Now that he's Majority Leader, Hoyer was able to raise $929,631 during the first quarter of this year alone—more than any other member of the House of Representatives. At that rate, Hoyer will raise over three times more during this election cycle than he did during the last one.

What makes Hoyer's current pace even more notable is that he raised all that dough during a traditionally light fundraising period. Hoyer won't even face the voters again for another 19 months and he's already got a lock on the seat (he won last November with 84 percent of the vote, versus 16 percent for a Green Party candidate). But of course, Hoyer's donors aren't giving him money for his re-election campaign; they're making tribute payments in recognition of his enhanced status in Congress, and down payments on favors they'll be looking for down the road.

In the House

Congressman Charles Rangel of New York, the new chairman of the vital Ways and Means Committee, raised about $2 million during 2005-2006, and about $837,000 during the first quarter of this year.

Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina, the new Majority Whip, took in $704,555 during the first quarter, well more than half of the $1.1 million he raised during the previous two years.

Caucus Chair Rahm Emmanuel of Illinois raised $432,859 during the first quarter, putting him on pace to nearly triple the $1.28 million he raised during the 2005-2006 period.

Pork King John Murtha of Pennsylvania, chair of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, raised more than $550,000 during the first quarter (including roughly $225,000 that came in on March 13, presumably the day of a campaign fundraiser). That compares with $2.7 million for all of 2005-2006. A huge number of Murtha's donors have business before his subcommittee. DRS Technologies, a defense firm I recently discussed, contributed some $26,000 to Murtha.

In the Senate

Some of the figures on the Senate side are even more striking. For example, Carl Levin of Michigan, the new chairman of the powerful Armed Services Committee, raised about $1.5 million during the first quarter. That was about five times more than the $287,781 he raised during the entire 2005-2006 period! (Levin is up for re-election next year but faces no serious threat to his seat.)

Mary Landrieu of Louisiana—holder of a coveted slot on the Appropriations Committee—raised nearly as much during the first quarter ($1 million) as she did during all of 2005-2006 ($1.4 million).

Tom Harkin of Iowa, another appropriator, took in about $1 million during the first quarter, half as much as during the previous two years.

Max Baucus of Montana, new head of the Senate Finance Committee, took in $2.9 million during 2005-2006. Given his first quarter pace—$1.1 million—he'll overtake that haul some time this summer.

The chart below uses these numbers to compare the rate of giving from 2005-2006 to what can be expected of 2007-2008 based on first-quarter results. As you can see, it's good to be in charge.

Contributions to selected Democrats, 2005-2008