 Updated: 05.16.08 Use the dropdown to see contributions by state: Update to the October 2007 Annual Report October 2007 Annual Report Appendix A: Tobacco PAC Contributions to Members of Congress (Jan 97-Apr 08, Contributions for Federal Office Only) Appendix B: Tobacco PAC Donations to Challengers and Former Members (07-08) Appendix C: Tobacco PAC Contributions to Cosponsors and Non-Cosponsors of Legislation S. 625, Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act During the 110th Congress Appendix D: Recipients of Tobacco PAC Contributions Among Congressional Leadership PACs, Jan. 99 – Aug. 2007 (partial cycle) Appendix E: Recipients of PAC Money from Tobacco PACs Among Other Non-Party Committees (Jan 99-Aug 07, partial cycle) Appendix F: Recipients of Tobacco Industry Contributions Among 527 Groups (Aug 00-Aug 06, partial cycle)
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Federal Contributions
In October 2007, the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund and Common Cause issued our annual report on tobacco industry political contributions to federal candidates, political parties and political action committees.
Our organizations also issue quarterly updates on contributions to federal candidates. Our April 2008 quarterly update found that the tobacco industry have made more than $1.1 million in political contributions directly to federal candidates so far in the 2007-2008 election cycle. During the 2005-2006 election cycle, the tobacco industry gave more than $2.3 million in contributions directly to federal candidates.
The impact of tobacco industry contributions is evident in the debate over legislation to grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products (S. 625, H.R. 1108):
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As of September 14, 2007, 54 Senators and 198 House members had sponsored this legislation. The 46 senators who were not bill sponsors had taken, on average, more than seven times as much tobacco PAC money since 2001 as the 54 senators sponsoring the bill ($23,590 vs. $3,083 per member). In the House, the 198 members who had sponsored the bill received an average of $3,218 in tobacco industry contributions between 2001 and 2007, compared to an average of $16,095 for members who had not sponsored the bill. View details.
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On August 1, 2007, the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved S. 625 by a margin of 13-8. Between 2001 and 2007, the eight members who voted against S. 625 received, on average, more than fourteen times as much tobacco PAC money as the 13 senators voting for the bill ($36,188 vs. $2,538 per member).
Among other things, the legislation would grant the FDA authority to crack down on tobacco marketing and sales to kids; grant the FDA authority to reduce or remove harmful ingredients; require tobacco companies to disclose the contents of tobacco products; stop tobacco companies from misleading the public about the health risks of their products; and require larger, more effective health warnings on tobacco products.
State Contributions
The National Institute on Money in State Politics tracks contributions to state candidates. The Institute maintains a database of all contributions to state candidates, including contributions from tobacco companies. The Institute's searchable databases are available to the public online, and are searchable by candidate, contributor and industry sector (including tobacco). Tobacco contributions to state candidates can be accessed at FollowTheMoney.org. The Institute also produces industry-specific reports. In October 2007, the Institute released a report on tobacco industry contributions to state candidates
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