January/February 2010 Issue

Big Finance’s 10 Favorite Lawmakers (for Now)

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Here’s how to reap Wall Street’s largesse on Capitol Hill: Represent New York, sit on a financial committee, hold a leadership position—or, if you’re Chuck Schumer, trifecta!

LEGISLATOR

DONATIONS FROM
BIG FINANCE, 2009

WHY WALL STREET WANTS
HIS/HER ATTENTION

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.)

$1,735,900

The Street’s favorite Dem fought regs for derivatives, credit ratings, and accounting

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

$1,019,110

As majority leader, signed off on TARP; all finance-related bills need his approval

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)

$944,950

Junior senator voted against the bailout twice—perhaps she’ll come around

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.)

$745,698

Once a deregulation fan, he’s now facing a reeelction fight—and pushing for reforms

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.)

$499,197

Minority whip’s October ’09 (!) op-ed said Americans underappreciate derivatives

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)

$458,008

Used to retool bankrupt companies for conservative billionaire Philip Anschutz

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.)

$423,873

Ex-VP at Goldman Sachs, member of pro-business New Democrat Coalition

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.)

$409,300

As ag committee chair, she must sign off on any new derivative regulations

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.)

$382,349

Financial Services Committee chair has called for “death panels” for failing firms

Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.)

$364,875

Tried to weaken consumer protection bill, voted against taxing giant AIG bonuses

Source: Center for Responsive Politics (donations as of 10/25/09)

This chart is part of Mother Jones’ coverage of the financial crisis, one year later.

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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