Lobbyists Give to Lawmakers’ Pet Charities

Lobbyists and advocacy groups, seeking to gain the favor of Congressional lawmakers often give to charities associated with legislators or their relatives, reports USA Today.

Since the passage of ethics rules in 2007, lobbyists have been required to report payments to events or groups associated with legislators or top federal officials.

Lobbyists gave $35.8-million in such payments — or roughly the amount the government spends to maintain Yellowstone National Park — in 2008, the newspaper found, with the lion’s share, $28-million, going to nonprofit organizations.

For example, last year telecommunications companies gave more than $72,000 to nonprofit groups in honor of Sen. Jay Rockeller, Democrat of West Virginia, including a $40,000 gift from AT&T to Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, an Alzheimer’s research group the senator founded and named for his late mother. Senator Rockefeller successfully advocated in Congress for legal immunity for phone companies that complied with the government’s electronic eavesdropping program.

Such donations do not benefit “run-of-the-mill charities,” says Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a watchdog group. “These gifts are another way to gain influence with lawmakers.”