NEWS

Senators Reach Out to Defense Contractors Who Contribute Heavily to Their Campaigns

Jeffrey ErnstFriedman | July 09, 2012

July 9, 2012– On Friday, Politico's Morning Defense blog reported on a letter from a group of U.S. senators to a number of defense contractors requesting their insight on the effects of impending budget cuts referred to as "sequestration."

According to Politico, the senators were motivated to reach out to the companies because "the White House has refused to 'conduct any meaningful analysis' on how the automatic budget cuts would affect the industrial base."  The letter was sent to 15 companies; however, the report highlights seven: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, L-3 Communications, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, and United Technologies Corporation.

MapLight has conducted an analysis of campaign contributions from these companies and their employees to all current members of Congress as well as to the lawmakers mentioned in the report: Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Jim Inhofe, Saxby Chambliss, Kelly Ayotte, Lindsey Graham, and John Cornyn.

Click here to download a spreadsheet of campaign contributions.

Contributions from the Above Defense Contractors to Current Members of Congress: Jan. 1, 2001 - Jun. 30, 2011

OrganizationTotal Contributions
Boeing$5,445,586
General Dynamics$3,913,882
L-3 Communications$1,357,808
Lockheed Martin$6,362,507
Northrop Grumman$4,259,340
Raytheon$4,250,275
United Technologies$2,823,491
  
Total$28,412,889

Contributions from the Mentioned Defense Contractors to the Seven Senators: Jan. 1, 2001 - Jun. 30, 2011

OrganizationTotal Contributions
Boeing$158,199
General Dynamics$143,960
L-3 Communications$54,225
Lockheed Martin$300,925
Northrop Grumman$213,753
Raytheon$121,857
United Technologies$284,450
  
Total$1,277,369

METHODOLOGY: MapLight analysis of campaign contributions from Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, L-3 Communications, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, and United Technologies Corporation and their respective employees to all current members of the U.S. House and Senate and to Joe Lieberman, John McCain, Jim Inhofe, Saxby Chambliss, Kelly Ayotte, Lindsey Graham, and John Cornyn from Jan. 1, 2001-June 30, 2011. Contributions data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org).