Dec. 17, 2010 -- As Janie Lorber writes for the New York Times, the Republican leadership has chosen Rep. David Camp as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee for the 112th Congress. Camp currently serves as the ranking minority member on Ways and Means.
Camp represents Michigan's 4th Congressional District, which includes portions of the northwest section of the state's Lower Peninsula.
Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the U.S. Congress, according to the Committee's congressional website. Ways and Means has "jurisdiction over revenue and related issues such as tariffs, reciprocal trade agreements, and the bonded debt of the United States," as well asSocial Security and Medicare.
The following are the top ten contributors to Camp's campaign by interest group:
| Interest | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Health Professionals | $194,119 |
| Insurance | $179,297 |
| Pharmaceuticals/Health Products | $168,400 |
| Securities & Investment | $141,919 |
| Lobbyists | $101,145 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $86,250 |
| Health Services/HMOs | $83,200 |
| Electric Utilities | $82,750 |
| Banks and Credit | $79,750 |
| Retail Sales | $75,150 |
Rep. David Camp will replace Michigan Democrat Sander Levin as chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. The following are the top ten contributors to Levin's campaign by interest group:
| Interest | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $190,627 |
| Insurance | $138,510 |
| Health Professionals | $131,900 |
| Real Estate | $90,550 |
| Lobbyists | $75,111 |
| Public Sector Unions | $69,500 |
| Hospitals/Nursing Homes | $69,350 |
| Electric Utilities | $58,000 |
| Industrial Unions | $55,500 |
| Building Trade Unions | $52,500 |
Contributions above are for the last two years of available data, Oct 14, 2008 - Oct 13, 2010. Contributions from political parties and from other candidates are not included in the "Top 10" lists. Contributions data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org).
