Plenty of money to go around

To the editor:

In response to Benjamin Spillman’s Friday article, “Ruling expected to bring more political ads to state for 2010 races”: I am honestly at a loss as to why Republicans are in favor of the ruling allowing unions and corporations to finance campaign efforts, and Democrats are opposed.

Since 1989, unions have contributed approximately $520 million in lobbying efforts, 95 percent to Democrats. Groups such as Emily’s List and the Human Rights Campaign have supported Democrats and their candidates to the tune of at least $30 million. The single largest lobby donor is AT&T at just more than $44 million, almost evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

In the report of the top 100 lobby donor groups released by the Federal Election Commission Dec. 6, it can easily be seen that the Democrats receive a large majority of all such contributions. Interestingly, the trial lawyers go by the name of “the American Association for Justice” and are the sixth all-time lobby donor at $31.3 million, 90 percent of which has gone to Democrats. This should clear up the mystery of why tort reform is absent from any version of “Obamacare.”

If you combine the teachers and the National Education Association, they surpass even AT&T at just more than $56 million. Financial institutions, banks and insurance companies are evenly divided along party lines and total approximately $250 million.

Much to my dislike as a doctor, the pharmaceutical companies listed (Pfizer, Glaxo, Bristol, Eli Lilly) contributed a combined total of $14 million, 70 percent to Republicans. The American Medical Association, an organization I and thousands of doctors actively boycott, was the 15th leading lobby donor at approximately $26.3 million, split 40 percent Democrat and 60 percent Republican. These figures, even totaled together, pale in comparison to contributions from unions and trial lawyers.

There are many other interesting aspects of this FEC report. Overall, one can appreciate that, like it or not, our government is for sale — bought and paid for. In my opinion, the dollar amounts reported likely represent a small fraction of money (and favors) that change hands under the table. Unions are by far the largest source of lobby dollars, and this money goes overwhelmingly to Democrats.

Is it any wonder why polls have shown that people trust a used car salesman over a politician?

Andrew L. Zak

LAS VEGAS

Big money

To the editor:

In response to the Supreme Court ruling last week on campaign finance:

Protecting speech is a good thing. The problem is that corporations are not individuals. The First Amendment was written to protect individuals.

Corporations have too much money, which is power. They will rule the airways with whatever agenda they choose. The little guy will have his voice silenced by these bullies.

This ruling clearly hands over to the health insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, or any powerful and rich corporation the power to flood the airwaves and newspapers with ads that express their interests.

I can understand why the Review-Journal or any publication that hopes to get some of this money would support the ruling. But I fear this is just another right being overrun by big money.

James Dillamon

LAS VEGAS