Report: Telecom firms shower lawmakers with money in net neutrality fight

The Sunlight Foundation and Center for Responsive Politics released a report today showing that "telecom firms that would be affected by the (net neutrality) rules and their trade groups have been swamping Congress with a one-two punch of campaign contributions from the companies and their registered lobbyists. Some 244 members of Congress were the beneficiaries of these contribution clusters–totaling more than $9.4 million–from January 2007 to June 2009."

John McCain (R-Ariz.), who introduced legislation today to block the FCC's action, was the largest recipient of contributions from these interests, with a grand total of $894,379, the report said.

House and Senate leaders were also targets: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was next with $341,089, followed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) with $275,275, Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) with $248,999, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (D-Kent.) with $198,972.

For a full list of contributions, read the report.