May 11, 2011 - President Obama has circulated a draft of an executive order to require all organizations that receive government contracts to reveal donations to political candidates, candidate committees, and third-party donors, such as the Chamber of Commerce, according to the Atlantic.
Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which are among the prominent business groups that oppose the order, have given approximately three times as much in reported campaign contributions since 2001 to Republican lawmakers elected since the 109th Congress as they have to Democrats.
- From Jan. 1, 2001 to Dec. 31, 2010, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its employees donated $620,543 to Republicans and $214,554 to Democrats and Independents who have served since the 109th Congress. Individuals employed by Business Roundtable, gave $52,850 to Republicans and $16,200 to Democrats and Independents in the same period.
- In the 2010 election cycle, of the almost $150,000 in contributions associated with these two groups, Republicans received $122,055 of the total, over four times as much as Democrats.
According to the draft order, donations requiring disclosure are those that total over $5,000 to a given recipient within one year. Republicans in both the House and Senate have submitted letters to the President, questioning the wisdom of the order, and asking him to reconsider signing it. The number two ranked Democrat in the House, Rep. Steny Hoyer, has also voiced his objection to the proposal.
Contributions data source: OpenSecrets.org
