WASHINGTON -- There was no shortage of cash flow to congressional campaigns leading up to Friday's trade votes, according to data released Saturday by the non-partisan research groups, MapLight and the Center for Responsive Politics.
Report shows interest groups shelled out funds prior to trade votes
Before the House voted on trade bills Friday groups in favor and opposed to the legislation gave copious amounts of cash to representatives
By kueppcm
June 15, 2015 at 6:02PM
The report shows industries supporting the Senate-passed Trade Act of 2015 gave $197.9 million to current House members. Industries opposing the legislation gave $23.1 million. Businesses like railroads, telephone utilities, agriculture and manufacturing weighed heavily in the deal's favor. While the greatest contributors to the anti-trade efforts were the teachers, teamsters, transportation, automotive and federal employees unions among others.
Every member of the Minnesota delegation received funds both from groups in favor of and opposing the trade legislation in amounts ranging from $500 to $1,420,630, according to the report.
Republican Reps. Erik Paulsen and John Kline led the delegation in money received from interest groups supporting the deal, receiving $1,420,630 and $940,622 respectively. While their Democratic counterparts Reps. Rick Nolan and Tim Walz received the highest amounts of money from groups opposing the legislation with $186,200 and $146,200 respectively, according to the report.
Trade adjustment assistance failed in the House, but trade promotion authority passed by a 219-211 margin. Nothing will be sent to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature since a concurrent passage of both was required. It's possible the House will revisit trade adjustment assistance this week.
Name
Tim Walz
Party
D
District
MN-1
$ from interest
groups that
supported
$308,244
$ from interest
groups that
opposed
$146,200
Vote
No
John Kline
R
MN-2
$940,622
$7,500
Yes
Erik Paulsen
R
MN-3
$1,420,630
$24,010
Yes
Betty McCollum
D
MN-4
$141,400
$113,250
No
Keith Ellison
D
MN-5
$205,062
$135,805
No
Tom Emmer
R
MN-6
$276,756
$500
Yes
Collin Peterson
D
MN-7
$732,967
$90,500
No
Richard Nolan
D
MN-8
$280,071
$186,200
No
Data from maplight.org.
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kueppcm
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