Out-of-District Money Flooding Congressional Campaign Coffers

Congressmen from Massachusetts are getting most of their campaign money from outside their districts, and in some cases, outside Massachusetts, according to MAPLight.org.

The Bay State’s congressional delegation hauled in nearly $11 million in campaign cash between 2005 and 2007, 81 percent of which came from donors living outside their districts, a new study reveals.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton) took in the most campaign cash of the Massachusetts delegation – $2.4 million – 91 percent of which came from outside his district and 73 percent of which came from out-of-state, according to campaign watchdog MAPLight.org.

Frank spokesman Peter Kovar said Frank’s chairmanship of the House financial services committee and involvement in gay rights and other “high-profile” national issues explains the high percentage of out-of-district donations.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Malden) topped the Bay State list with 93 percent of his $1.1 million coming from out of his district. Markey ranked 45th of 421 House lawmakers in the study.

Nationally, House members raised $700 million, 79 percent of which came from outside members’ districts.

The study tracked donations of $200 or more.

“Instead of a voting democracy, we have a dollar democracy – may the biggest-spending special interest win,” said MAPLight executive director Daniel Newman.

Other Bay State lawmakers’ donations included:

Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield), $1.1 million, 90 percent out-of-district, 22 percent from Massachusetts;

Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Somerville), $1.2 million, 85 percent from outside his district, 45 percent from Massachusetts;

Rep. James McGovern (D-Worcester), $1 million, 82 percent out-of-district, 47 percent in-state;

Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-Quincy), $802,000, 81 percent out-of-district, 52 percent in-state;

Rep. James Olver (D-Amherst), $971,000, 79 percent out-of-district, 45 percent in-state;

Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-S. Boston), $1.45 million, 73 percent out-of-district, 62 percent in-state;

Rep. John Tierney (D-Salem), $769,000, 58 percent out-of-district, 57 percent in-state.

Bailout Roll Call

How did your representative vote on the $700 billion bailout?

U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, Michael Capuano, Ed Markey, John Olver, Richard Neal, Jim McGovern and Niki Tsongas voted for the massive $700 billion plan that ultimately failed on a 228-205 vote.

Congressmen Stephen Lynch, William Delahunt and John Tierney bucked leadership by voting against the legislation.

All 10 of Massachusetts’ House members are Democrats.

The overall party breakdown on the bill was:

140 Democrats and 65 Republicans in favor.

95 Democrats and 133 Republicans against.

Massachusetts Reps Against John Doe

It is a disgrace–but not a surprise–that only one of the Massachusetts Democrats in the House of Representatives voted in favor of all of us “John Does.”

House Republicans yesterday surprised Democrats with a procedural vote to protect public-transportation passengers from being sued if they report suspicious activity — the first step by lawmakers to protect “John Doe” airline travelers already targeted in such a lawsuit.

After a heated debate and calls for order, the motion to recommit the Democrats’ Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 back to committee with instructions to add the protective language passed on a vote of 304-121.

All 121 of the “no” votes were cast by Democrats, while 199 Republicans and 105 Democrats voted in favor.

And who among our ten representatives voted for protecting “John Doe”? Again, not a surprise, it was Rep. Stephen Lynch representing the 9th District.

As for the rest of them, John Olver, Richard Neal, James McGovern, Barney Frank, Marty Meehan, John Tierney, Ed Markey, Michael Capuano, and Bill Delahunt…thanks for letting us know who you care about more than your constituents.

And go screw.

The Culture of Corruption In Massachusetts

The other day, the Boston Globe reported that four congressmen “have attended luxurious Fourth of July weekends at Cape Cod’s exclusive Wequassett Inn in Chatham with representatives of various interest groups, courtesy of a little-known nonprofit group started by a longtime lobbyist.”

The lobbyist, Jeanne Campbell, received millions of dollars in contracts to lobby Congress through her Washington-based firm, Campbell-Crane. Her clients, including several Massachusetts agencies and companies, routinely attend the Fourth of July events.

The trips to the Wequassett Inn, where room rates range from $475 to $1,300 per night, are intended as seminars where industry representatives can discuss legislative issues with members of Congress. But government watchdog groups say they represent a common route around federal lobbying restrictions.

The firm has paid more than $22,500 to cover Massachusetts congressmen attending the sessions since 1996, the first year for which records are available. Nearly $11,000 went to cover food and lodging expenses of US Representative Richard Neal, a Springfield Democrat, who has attended every year but 2002.

For Neal — along with Representatives Michael E. Capuano, William D. Delahunt, and the late J. Joseph Moakley, each of whom attended at least two July Fourth weekends at Wequassett over the past 10 years — costs were covered by the Invest to Compete Alliance, which describes itself as a nonprofit educational organization for service and manufacturing groups.

Congressional Democrats have made a big fuss in recent months over lobbyist funded travel. Privately-funded trips have been under the microscope, especially since these trips, allegedly meant for educational purposes, tend to be at popular and exotic vacation spots, and many members of Congress bring their spouses with them. Of course, Democrats always have excuses why their trips are okay, but Republicans’ trips are not.

Massachusetts Congressmen Avoid Scrutiny Over Lobbyist Gifts

The Boston Herald reports on the luck enjoyed by Massachusetts congressmen.

Congress’ crackdown on lobbyist gifts and junkets hasn’t clipped the wings of several members of the Bay State delegation and their staffs, who flew free of charge this year on several purported business trips paid for by special-interest groups, a Herald review found.

These groups have shelled out nearly $17,000 this year to shuttle Bay State lawmakers, their wives and aides to meetings in vacation hot spots such as Fort Lauderdale, San Diego and a beachfront resort in Mexico, according to congressional travel documents.

News of the lawmakers’ junkets comes as Congress scrutinizes special interest and lobbyist gifts in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. Abramoff, a Brandeis graduate, has pleaded guilty to fraud and bribery after showering Washington lawmakers with gifts including trips and meals. All of the trips taken by the Bay State lawmakers were reported in gift and travel filings required under Congress’ ethics rules.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Malden) landed the sweetest deal, escaping the January cold with his wife, Dr. Susan Blumenthal, to a resort in Punta Mita, Mexico. The nonprofit Aspen Institute footed the $7,800 bill for the couple’s all-inclusive week in the tropical vacation spot just south of Puerto Vallarta.

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