Last week, The Hill reported on progressive activists' ire towards two proposals in Congress that would expand access to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to lobbying groups, with John Bowden saying the following:
"Anti-lobbying activists are sounding the alarm over efforts on Capitol Hill to let lobbying groups access emergency loans meant for small businesses struggling during the pandemic.
"Competing proposals from Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) would allow local chambers of commerce and trade associations like America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and PhRMA, which represents the pharmaceutical industry, to tap into the Paycheck Protection Program, federal funding that Congress set aside to help non-political businesses weather the coronavirus.
"The legislative effort to expand the Small Business Administration (SBA) program comes as many of the intended recipients have complained about favoritism for well-connected firms that were able to obtain the emergency loans quickly and with little hassle.
"Progressives argue that the new bills will allow taxpayer funds to boost corporate lobbying interests."
Despite the pushback from progressives that the two proposals are receiving, it should come as no surprise that Cruz and Pappas are pushing them. In 2018, when he ran for re-election to the Senate, Cruz raked in $3,500 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He also received significant campaign contributions from leadership PACs that, in turn, took money from AHIP and PhRMA. These contributions to the senator include $10,000 from Sen. Lamar Alexander's (R-TN) Tenn PAC (which received $5,000 from AHIP and $1,500 from PhRMA), $5,000 from Rep. Kevin Brady's (R-TX) Making America Prosperous (which received $5,000 from AHIP), $1,000 from Rep. Michael Burgess's (R-TX) Lone Star Leadership PAC (which received $5,000 from AHIP and $1,000 from PhRMA), $10,000 from fellow Texas Sen. John Cornyn's (R) Alamo PAC (which received $2,000 from PhRMA and $1,000 from AHIP), $10,000 from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) Bluegrass Committee (which received $5,000 from PhRMA), $7,700 from Vice President Pence's Great America Committee (which received $5,000 from PhRMA), $10,000 from Sen. Richard Shelby's (R-AL) Defend America PAC (which received $2,500 from PhRMA), $5,000 from Sen. Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) Hawkeye PAC (which received $1,500 from PhRMA), $5,000 from Sen. Steve Daines's (R-MT) Big Sky Opportunity PAC (which received $1,500 from PhRMA), $10,000 from Sen. Richard Burr's (R-NC) Next Century Fund (which received $1,500 from PhRMA), $5,000 from Sen. Todd Young's (R-IN) Oorah! PAC (which received $1,500 from PhRMA), $5,000 from Sen. Ben Sasse's (R-NE) Sensible American Solutions Supporting Everyone (which received $500 from PhRMA), and $5,000 from Sen. Tim Scott's (R-SC) Tomorrow Is Meaningful (which received $500 from PhRMA).
Pappas, meanwhile, throughout the current election cycle, has taken $2,000 from Shore PAC, a leadership PAC affiliated with Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) that has, in turn, received $5,000 from AHIP and $2,500 from PhRMA. Additionally, Rep. Tony Cárdenas's (D-CA) Victory by Investing Building & Empowering PAC has contributed $1,000 to Pappas, as the leadership PAC has received an equal amount from PhRMA. Now, it is seemingly clear as to why the two members of Congress have come out with these proposals, as well as why many are angry at them for doing so; it is yet another representation of Congress prioritizing relief for those who can bankroll their campaigns above those who need it most.
Are Americans listening? They reveal what scum they are.
Thank you for the responsible reporting Alex. This is most informative. Follow the money trail, and clearly we must get crafting money out of politics! And all this lateral sharing shows “who is in bed with who“. That should be graphically depicted so all Americans can understand.