Money, money, money! (Privacy and Government Surveillance)

Over the past 10 years, the three largest telecom companies (AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon) have contributed over $52.7 million to politicians through campaign contributions, $29.3 of which was from PACs.

The lobbying costs are just as grotesque--Verizon has filed over 100 lobbying forms to strengthen FISA, costing them over $22 million. Similarly, AT&T has also spent nearly $30 million in the past 10 years on similar lobbying efforts. The FISA Amendments Act of 2008 egregiously allowed telecommunication companies to illegally give clients' information to the government in the name of "national security." In 2012, the act was renewed easily with support of both Democrats and Republicans. I guess money is the only thing that stops gridlock in Congress.

Furthermore, Verizon has given nearly $800,000 to Intelligence Committee members, which make laws about phone surveillance and it's legality. AT&T also chipped in nearly $1.4 million to help those helpless, needy Congressman. How generous! $170,000 is simply too little to live off of...

Telecom companies try to keep intelligence committee members happy through fundraisers for member candidates.  Most notably, our wonderful, amazing, and truly liberal Senator, Dianne Feinstein, has also received $110,447 in donations from these companies as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Senator Chambliss also received a hefty sum of $150,750 as a high ranking member of the same committee. These two senators were, surprisingly, the first to defend the NSA!

Not only do Telecom companies lobby Congress, but defense contractors heavily contribute to politicians. In reality, Representatives that were in favor of the NSA legislation received more than 2 times more money from the defense industry. On average, representatives in favor of the legislation received $41, 635 from these companies, whereas those opposed to the legislation received only $18,765.

Out of the top 10 recipients of these funds, 9 voted against the Amash Amendment of the Defense appropriations bill, which would require that the NSA to only spy on those currently under investigation. An overwhelming majority of those receiving hefty contributions voted no on this section as well. Here is a breakdown of the top 15 recipients of defense contractor cash. Here's a complete list.

This is an example of the iron triangle between defense contractors (interest group), legislators (especially intelligence committee members, and the NSA (government agency).

Sources:

Masnick, Mike. "All About The Money: Reps Who Voted For NSA Surveillance Received 2X As Much Money From Defense Industry." Techdirt. Techdirt, 29 July 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. 

Stein, Sam. "NSA Surveillance: Telecom Companies Spend Millions Lobbying Congress To Protect Their Interests." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 June 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjuRhETwbI0

https://www.aclu.org/files/interactive_image/nsa_unchained.jpg?v=1

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvN_s-1G25BQHDfTJX4NZw1s2OPvZETMT8n4VvcodAWEeiZrNWQAptgzkJH8-KhJ-RuzE2Feu0EGfj9XpzcADDazM_LEp5TlEZZPInj8FHmVU49q4yosSa4T3z13xrTkHzPREdg0QZ4vU/s1600/dianne-feinstein.png

http://elizabethemkenussenate2012.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/copy-of-feinstein-cash.jpg?w=627

http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2013/01/should-defense-contractors-be-hit-with.html

http://www.tothetick.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/NSA2.jpg