Senators Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., are in a showdown over legislation related to the National Security Agency's bulk data collection programs.
Last week, Leahy, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced legislation that would put an end to many of the NSA's bulk surveillance and data collection activities that have come to light from the release of classified documents leaked by Edward Snowden. Groups like the ACLU and Public Knowledge are hailing the bill as an effective measure that would enact core reforms to protect civil liberties.
Meanwhile, on October 30, Feinstein, the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, pushed legislation through her committee that would provide legal authority for many of the NSA's current records collection policies, while making changes to the agency's reporting requirements and requiring Senate confirmation of the NSA director. Feinstein has continually defended the legality of the phone records program and at a hearing earlier this month said, "I will do everything I can to keep this program from being cancelled out...to destroy it is to make this nation more vulnerable."
Data: MapLight analysis of campaign contributions from employees and PACs of the top 20 Department of Defense intelligence services contractors (via USASpending) since January 1, 2007 to Senators Dianne Feinstein and Patrick Leahy, based on latest available data from the Federal Election Commission as of October 4, 2013.
- Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has received 3 times more money from top intelligence service contractors than Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., since 2007.
| Dept. of Defense Intelligence Services Contractors | Contributions to Senator *Feinstein | Contributions to Senator Leahy |
|---|---|---|
| General Dynamics | $43,750 | $13,300 |
| Northrop Grumman | $29,800 | $6,000 |
| Lockheed Martin | $10,000 | $11,000 |
| Honeywell International | $10,000 | $5,000 |
| **L-3 Communications | $6,500 | --- |
| AECOM | $7,000 | --- |
| $107,050 | $35,300 |
*Not included in the chart is a $250 contribution to Senator Feinstein from John Hopkins University, #19 on the USASpending list
**Totals for L-3 Communications Corporations, L-3 National Securities Solutions Inc. and L-3 Communications Holding Inc. were combined for this analysis.
Image credit: United States Congress
