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Hare: Campaign Contributions from Banks Did Not Influence Bailout Vote
A watchdog group says it thinks it knows the real reason behind Monday's votes on the federal financial rescue plan -- and they believe it doesn't have much to do with what's good for Congressmen's constituents.

Maplight.org says if you look at campaign cash, the "yes" votes on the $700 million plan came from Congressmen who received money in the last five years from banks and securities firms. The group believes Democrat Congressmen who voted yes received twice as much as Democrats voting no.

Those firms only gave 17th District Democrat Phil Hare just over $48,000, and he says to him, that doesn't much matter. "I don't look at who gives me money," Hare said. "And I'm hoping, and I believe, that the vast majority of people who voted for the bill, or even against the bill, aren't doing it on the basis of who contributes to them."

Hare says he just doesn't believe his colleagues on the Illinois Congressional Delegation operate that way. "I don't think members go down (to the House or Senate floors), to be honest with you, and say 'Well, we're getting all kinds of money so I gotta do...what the lobbyists are telling me to do.'"

A University of Illinois Political Science professor believes, however, that the real trend in the votes has to do with Congressmen who are in a tough re-election race.

DONATIONS TO ILLINOIS MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY BANKS AND SECURITIES FIRMS, SINCE 2003
(Local Representatives are in bold.)

Melissa Bean (D-Barrington)
Yes
$773,135

Danny Davis (D-Chicago)
Yes
$80,672

Rahm Emanuel (D-Chicago)
Yes
$1,635,546

Bill Foster (D-Geneva)
Yes
$70,400

Luis Gutierrez (D-Chicago)
Yes
$73,630

Phil Hare ( D-Rock Island )
Yes
$48,050

Mark S. Kirk ( R-Highland Park )
Yes
$773,800

Ray LaHood (R-Peoria)
Yes
$115,370

Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston)
Yes
$135,780

Judy Biggert (R-Hinsdale)
No
$469,508

Jerry Costello (D-Belleville)
No
$67,200

Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Chicago)
No
$173,675

Tim Johnson (R-Urbana)
No
$50,303

Dan Lipinski (D-Western Springs)
No
$37,650

Don Manzullo (R-Egan)
No
$445,773

Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton)
No
$384,174

Bobby Rush (D-Chicago)
No
$72,425

John Shimkus (R-Collinsville)
No
$94,541

Jerry Weller (R-Morris)
Did not vote
$275,298

SOURCE: http://www.maplight.org/map/us/bill/72675/N7DgM9/votes/votedetail-351995

(The Illinois Radio Network contributed to this story.)
10 01 08 by Newsroom
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