Leadership PAC Money and Bipartisan Usership

Regardless of political persuasion, congressmen sure like to pump for money. And they're not selfish about spending it on themselves either: travel to golf and ski resorts, entertainment, expensive restaurants, sports events, and even popcorn and candy. And let's don't leave out the proverbial bar tab and private jets and horse tracks.

"Leadership" PACs began cropping up in the 1970s. They are separate from campaign committees in that "lawmakers are supposed to pass along the bulk of the money to other members of their party for their campaigns. That way, lawmakers with leadership PACs can earn their beneficiaries' support when it comes time to divvy up committee chairmanships and other party leadership posts."

The problem with these "Leadership" PACs is that, unlike campaign contributions, there are no FEC rules prohibiting lawmakers from using the money for personal fun and games.

Who's the leader of the PAC

That's made for me and me

J-O-H-N  B-O-E-H-N-E-R

Hey! there, Hi! there, Ho! there

I'm as welcome as can be
J-O-H-N  B-O-E-H-N-E-R

That's right boys and girls. Rep. John Boehner of Ohio. Do I hear applause?

The Minority Leader really isn't the leader but he has raised more than $1.4 million from business interests this election cycle for a committee he claims to have created to help fellow Republican lawmakers. But after spending only a third of the committee's money on other candidates, what's happened to all that other money?

Everyone knows you have to spend money to make money and Johnny has done that with gusto. Five-star restaurants. Trips to luxurious resorts where he rubs shoulders with corporate groups and lobbyists. He has spent more than $182,000 through the committee on travel with donors to high-end vacation spots. This included $70,403 for a stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples and over $30,000 at Disney Resort Destinations.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) is the real winner. He has been a busy boy as well. His Leadership PAC raised more than any other on the hill this election cycle - $1.9 million. This included $136,000 on golf and sporting vents, skiing and more fine dining. The committee's expenditures on popcorn, candy and cookies totaled $13,400.
Yummy.

Democrats have exhibited some amazing leadership skills as well..

In this cycle, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) "has spent $52,700 on travel with donors to resorts; his committee also spent $9,800 on entertainment tickets and a limousine company. Less than half of its expenditures went to other candidates, the center's tally shows." The Center for Responsive Politics charts his fund-raising total at $3.3 million and ProPublica estimates his entertainment and travel expenses to be $413,404.

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) raised $2.1 million and spent $378,420 on entertainment and travel. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) spent $261,295 on the fun side while raising nearly $1.2 million.

Recommended reading:

ProPublica has a searchable database.

Center for Responsive Politics lists Leadership PACS and their affiliates. A click on a PAC will link to a chart of funds raised and expenditures.

Doggone Those Blue Dogs

A dog is a dog, no matter whether it’s blue, pink or chartreuse. It’ll wag its tail one moment and growl in the next. The only thing it’s concerned about is how full its bowl is.

Democratic Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas is howling over health care reform. Like a pit bull in heat, he and the 51 other Blue Doggers have sunk their jaws into the jugulars of their fellow Democrats and with ferocious tenacity have refused to let go. Ross, according to the Washington Post, keeps yipping and yapping that “the committee’s draft falls short.”

Apparently Ross, a former pharmacy owner, is licking his jowls in anticipation of more fodder for him and his followers. Like most canines they run in packs and are a rather hungry bunch. While their bowl already runneth over due to the generosity of the insurance and health care industries, they’re licking their chops in anticipation of even more nibbles and bits.

Poor little pups. Until June of this year they’ve only been able to collect $1.1 million in PAC funds – with more than half coming from the health care, insurance and financial services industries. That’s so pitiful you almost want to adopt them so they don’t have to live in tiny little cages.

The Washington Post reports that “typical Blue Dogs receive significantly more money -- about 25 percent -- from the health-care and insurance sectors than other Democrats, putting them closer to Republicans in attracting industry support."

Most of the major corporations and trade groups in those sectors are regular contributors to the Blue Dog PAC. They include drug makers such as Pfizer and Novartis; insurers such as WellPoint and Northwestern Mutual Life; and industry organizations such as America's Health Insurance Plans. The American Medical Association also has been one of the top contributors to individual Blue Dog members over the past 20 years.

Most of the Blue Dogs are from rural Southern and Midwestern districts that overwhelmingly voted for Republican Sen. John MCcain (Ariz.) over Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

It wouldn't take much figuring to figure that out.

Ross has received nearly $1 million in contributions from the health-care sector and insurance industry during his five terms in Congress, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign contributions. The lawmaker founded Ross Pharmacy of Prescott, Ark., which he and his wife sold in 2007. The couple received $100,000 to $1 million in dividends last year from the sale, according to House financial disclosure forms.

Overall, the typical Blue Dog has received $63,000 more in campaign contributions from the health-care sector than other House Democrats over the past two decades, according to the CRP analysis. The top three recipients were Rep. Earl Pomeroy (N.D.), with $1.5 million, and Tennessee Reps. Bart Gordon and John Tanner, both of whom collected over $1.2 million from the industry and its employees, according to the data.

Go Ten-Uh-See.