Democrats outpacing GOP in lobbyist cash

The national political parties took more cash from lobbyists in the first half of 2011 than in any other six-month period on record. The Democratic Party’s committees have easily outpaced their GOP counterparts despite President Obama’s vilification of special-interest giving.


An analysis by The Washington Times found that the fundraising arms of the Democrats took in 30 percent more in lobbyist donations than Republicans in the first six months of this year, a lead but a significant drop since the heady days of 2008 and 2009 when Democrats dominated with ratios of 2-to-1 and 3-to-1, respectively. The figure is at odds with the grass-roots image that Democratic leaders have cultivated.


Congressional disclosures through June show the Republicans’ fundraising groups - the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee - received $1 million from lobbyists compared with $1.3 million taken in by the Democrats’ committees this year.


Lobbyists contributed $1.6 million to Democratic Party committees in the months before the ban and $1.7 million in that period a year later, indicating Mr. Obama’s oft-touted efforts to keep special interests at a distance have done little to curb their giving to Democrats.

“It’s hypocritical,” said Howard Marlowe, president of the American League of Lobbyists. “He’s found someone who’s got a couple percentage points lower [approval] than Congress and he’s going to pound away. … Meanwhile, all these folks absolutely love money from whatever source, as long as it’s legal.”

Read More Here: 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/19/democrats-outpacing-gop-in-lobbyist-cash-race/