Vote correlation: Internet privacy resolution and telecom contributions

We took a look at the contributions received by members of the House and Senate from the telecommunication industry, Here’s what we found:

On the House side, while there wasn’t a huge difference in overall funds received by lawmakers voting for or against the privacy resolution, there was a gap in the Republican vote. GOP lawmakers who voted to quash the rule received an average of $138,000 from the industry over the course of their careers. The 15 Republicans voting nay? They got just $77,000. Some Democrats were quite popular targets for industry contributions. Rep Steny Hoyer (D-MD) of Maryland, for instance, who is the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House, has received more than $1.3 million from telecom interests in the course of his long career, more than all but two House members; he received almost $190,000 in the 2016 cycle alone. Still, he voted against the bill, as did Rep James Clyburn (D-SC) ($968,000 career), Rep Anna Eshoo (D-CA) ($864,000), and every other Democrat.