Tobacco Money Buying Our Congress (9/21/06)

Check it out - here is the 2006 list of the US Senators and Representatives in Congress who are pocketing the most money from Big Tobacco companies. Funny how the same politicians who preach about Jesus, Family Values and Protecting The Country are quietly pocketing thousands of dollars from companies that push the deadly, addictive products that cause the deaths of 450,000 Americans every year. That doesn't sound too consistent with protecting us or loving Jesus and families to me, does it to you?? Every year in America, tobacco kills 150 times the number of people who died on September 11th. But you won't hear about that from assholes like Rick Santorum who pretend to want to make us all safer! Does this piss you off? Let the politicians know! If they represent you, FIRE THEM! YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT!

The top 20 recipients of tobacco contributions in Congress so far in the 2005-2006 election cycle:

Top 10 Senators Contribution Totals
George Allen (R-VA) $34,000
Conrad Burns (R-MT) $29,500
John Ensign (R-NV) $28,500
Rick Santorum (R-PA) $22,000
Ben Nelson (D-NE) $20,500
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) $16,000
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) $14,000
Richard Burr (R-NC) $13,128
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) $13,000
Norm Coleman (R-MN) $12,000
Click Here To Contact Your Senator!!


Top 10 Representatives Contribution Totals
Ron Lewis (R-KY) $34,500
Eric Cantor (R-VA) $26,750
Jim McCrery (R-LA) $25,500
Robin Hayes (R-NC) $25,000
Henry Bonilla (R-TX) $22,000
John Boehner (R-OH) $21,000
Edward Whitfield (R-KY) $21,000
Mark Kennedy (R-MN) $19,000
Mike McIntyre (D-NC) $19,000
Allen Boyd (D-FL) $18,000
Click Here To Contact Your Representative in Congress!!

In addition to individual contributions, tobacco PACs have donated more than $1.2 million to non-candidate committees, including leadership PACs affiliated with individual members of Congress.

Name of Leadership PAC / Affiliated Member of Congress Contribution Totals

Freedom Project / John Boehner (R-OH) $41,000

Every Republican is Crucial / Eric Cantor (R-VA) $36,000

Together for our Majority PAC / Tom Reynolds (R-NY) $35,000

New Republican Majority Fund / Trent Lott (R-MS) $30,000

Rely on Your Beliefs Fund / Roy Blunt (R-MO) $27,000

Bluegrass Committee / Mitch McConnell (R-KY) $25,128

Senate Victory Fund PAC / Thad Cochran (R-MS) $25,000

Republican Majority Fund / Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) $24,500

Committee for the Preservation of
Capitalism / Jim McCrery (R-LA) $22,500

Next Century Fund / Richard Burr (R-NC) $22,500

AMERIPAC: The Fund for a Greater
America / Steny Hoyer (D-MD) $22,500

Promoting Republicans You Can
Elect PAC / Deborah Pryce (R-OH) $22,500

"The tobacco companies have been found guilty of a 50 year conspiracy of lies, deception, disease, and death and of continuing to violate the law, but members of Congress are still taking millions of dollars from them and failing to take action to protect kids," said William V. Corr, executive director of the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund. "Our leaders should stand up to the tobacco companies, return their contributions and reject future donations from this rogue industry."

"Despite court findings that tobacco companies hurt the public interest by lying about the dangers of smoking and marketing products to children, the cigarette makers through generous campaign contributions have maintained access and influence to Members of Congress who are supposed to be protecting the public good," said Common Cause President Chellie Pingree. "The tobacco industry and its allies continue to buy their way around Capitol Hill at the public's peril."

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