Dec. 17, 2010 -- As Jim Snyder of Bloomberg reports, Rep. Fred Upton has triumphed in a muti-lateral contest to chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Texas's Joe Barton, Illinois's John Shimkus and Florida's Cliff Stearns were also vying for the job.
Rep. Upton represents Michigan's 6th Congressional District, which includes the seven counties of southwest Michigan. The Congressman has served in the House of Representatives since 1986.
The Energy and Commerce Committee has a broad portfolio, including jurisdiction over national energy policy as well as interstate and foreign commerce.
The following are the top ten contributors to Upton's campaign by interest group:
| Interest | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Electric Utilities | $177,100 |
| Health Professionals | $97,152 |
| Pharmaceuticals/Health Products | $83,700 |
| TV/Movies/Music | $72,350 |
| Oil & Gas | $68,550 |
| Lobbyists | $46,908 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $45,088 |
| Automotive | $43,500 |
| Waste Management | $39,800 |
| Telephone Utilities | $39,750 |
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) will replace California Democrat Henry Waxman as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 112th Congress. The following are the top ten contributors to Waxman's campaign by interest group:
| Interest | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Health Professionals | $144,250 |
| TV/Movies/Music | $128,150 |
| Hospitals/Nursing Homes | $108,250 |
| Health Services/HMOs | $105,950 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $94,050 |
| Electric Utilities | $58,500 |
| Telecom Services & Equipment | $50,000 |
| Pharmaceuticals/Health Products | $49,900 |
| Industrial Unions | $46,000 |
| Lobbyists | $41,350 |
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).
