US taxpayers should check their mailboxes for a “Thank You” letter from several incumbent US Senators, Congressmen and other candidates for contributions to their re-election campaigns. The contributions were made on taxpayers’ behalf by their automobile manufacturing company, General Motors, which is majority owned by US taxpayers.
The following list from the Center for Responsive Politics website shows where taxpayers’ contributions have gone:
Dingell, John D (D-MI) House $7,000
Portman, Rob (R-OH) Senate $3,400
Ayotte, Kelly A (R-NH) Senate $2,650
Carney, John (D-DE) House $2,500
Schumer, Charles E (D-NY) Senate $2,400
Walberg, Tim (R-MI) House $2,300
Brady, Kevin (R-TX) House $1,500
Schauer, Mark (D-MI) House $1,500
Emerson, Jo Ann (R-MO) House $1,250
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) Senate $1,000
Coons, Chris (D-DE) Senate $1,000
Hayworth, J D (R-AZ) Senate $1,000
Hoyer, Steny H (D-MD) House $1,000
Paul, Rand (R-KY) Senate $1,000
Upton, Fred (R-MI) House $1,000
Wyden, Ron (D-OR) Senate $1,000
Bucshon, Larry D (R-IN) House $500
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) House $500
McCotter, Thad (R-MI) House $500
Souder, Mark E (R-IN) House $300
Bono Mack, Mary (R-CA) House $250
Hoogendyk, Jack (R-MI) House $250
Lad, Ashvin Prakash (R-IL) House $250
Meek, Kendrick B (D-FL) House $250
Raczkowski, Andrew (R-MI) House $250
Thune, John (R-SD) Senate $250
Boozman, John (R-AR) House $200
Obama, Barack (D) Pres $-7,100
It seems that only the President had the sense to return a $7,100 donation from GM, although he did receive about $55,000 from GM during his run for the presidency in 2008. Total contributions for 2010 add up to $27,900, with $10,550 going to Democrats and $17,350 going to Republicans.
But wait, there’s more. So far in 2010, GM has spent $4.08 million on lobbying. That’s the highest total of any auto industry company or association.
The Wall Street Journal cites a GM spokesman who said that GM is “not going to sit on the sidelines as our competitors and other industries that have PACs are participating in the political process.” The spokesman also noted that the company’s political contributions are “an effective means for our employees to pool their resources and have their collective voice heard.”
These contributions and lobbying payments may be legal, but they certainly smell bad. Every dime of campaign contributions should be returned to US taxpayers, as should the lobbying dollars.
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