Much of the following information has been extracted from data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics. It can be accessed at OpenSecrets.org.
Of over $1.7 million raised for Mr. Boucher’s 2008 campaign (he ran unopposed), over $1.3 million came from PAC’s and Lobbyists.
(One constituent from Wytheville recommended that “Mr. Boucher should be required to wear a NASCAR suit. That way we would know who his corporate sponsors are!”).
In the 2007 – 2008 election cycle, Mr. Boucher was the SECOND HIGHEST RECIPIENT of ALL 435 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS from ”Chemicals”, “Coal Mining”, “Electric Utilities”, and other “Mining”.
Mr. Boucher voted “NO” to “safe and drug free school programs to include information on the risks of tobacco use and risk addiction to smoking resulting from ingestion to nicotine”. The bill was PASSED by the House by a vote of 353 to 70 ! Rick Boucher was one of the 70. (Mr. Boucher received $30,600.00 from the TOBACCO INDUSTRY).
Mr. Boucher voted FOR the “Wall Street bail-out”. (The American Bankers Association contributed $10k to his re-election campaign of ’06 and the same amount again in ’08. In ’07 and ’08 “Commercial Banks” contributed $39,250.00 and “Securities and Investment Firms” added $50,100.00).
Mr. Boucher voted FOR the “Auto bail-out”. (The United Auto Workers contributed $10k to his ’06 re-election campaign. In ’07 and ’08 “Automotive” contributed $25,500.00).
For the last 4 election cycles combined (’02 – ’08), Mr. Boucher has raised a total of approximately $900,000 MORE than the AVERAGE House member in the U.S. Congress over the same timeframe.
Mr. Boucher voted “NO” to Campaign Finance Reform. Any wonder?
Cycle Fundraising, 2007 – 2008
Raised: $1,724,900
Spent: $1,135,704
Cash on Hand: $1,364,783
Debts: $0
Last Report: Monday, November 24, 2008
Mr. Boucher has had at least TEN staff members (including TWO who had titles of CHIEF of Staff) involved with Lobbying Firms and/or Special interest Groups. The Lobbying Firms, which often snap up congressional staff people , often charge steep fees from their deep-pocketed clients. As such, the Lobbyist firms can offer those staff people higher salaries than they earn in the congressman’s office. In return, firms get Lobbyists who already have established connections. The lobbying firm with a track record of hiring the greatest number of former government employees …? PATTON BOGGS, LLP.
The list below shows the top individual contributors to Rick Boucher’s ’08 campaign (even though he ran unopposed). His number 1 individual contributor? PATTON BOGGS, LLP.
Top Contributors, 2007 – 2008:
Patton Boggs LLP $20,500
Energy Solutions $16,200
Air Products & Chemicals Inc $11,500
Lindsay Goldberg $11,500
Third Security $10,950
Consumer Electronics Assn $10,500
American Bankers Assn $10,000
AT&T Inc $10,000
Carpenters & Joiners Union $$10,000
Constellation Energy $10,000
Dominion Resources $10,000
Exelon Corp $10,000
Nat’l Cable & Telecommunications Assn $10,000
Nat’l Mining Assn $10,000
News Corp $10,000
Nat’l Rural Electric Cooperative Assn $9,725
EchoStar Communications $9,600
Peabody Energy $9,500
Bank of America $9,600
Duke Energy $9,000
Eastman Chemical $9,000
Top Industries Contributing to Boucher, 2007 – 2008
Electric Utilities $219,297
Lawyers/Law Firms $89,597
Computers/Internet $66,950
Oil & Gas $66,300
LOBBYISTS $64,454
Chemical $61,500
TV/Movies/Music $51,100
Securities & Investment $50,100
Mining $49,504
Telephone Utilities $46,200
Commercial Banks $39,250
Misc. Energy $35,600
Industrial Unions $33,000
Telecom services & Equip. $31,200
Tobacco $30,600
Pharmaceuticals/Health products $29,250
Retail Sales $29,000
Accountants $27,500
Automotive $25,500
Business Services $25,200