House Members Who Approved Auto Bailout Got More Campaign Fuel From the Industry from Capital Eye by Communications

excepted from http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/12/house-members-who-approved-aut.html

House Democrats voting to bail out Detroit's Big Three have collected 44 percent more money, on average, from auto manufacturers, dealers and unions than Democratic opponents of the bill. Republican supporters have collected 62 percent more than opponents in their party.

WASHINGTON (Dec. 12, 2008)--Members of the House of Representatives who approved a $14 billion cash infusion for Ford, Chrysler and General Motors on Wednesday night have received more campaign contributions, on average, from the automotive industry during their careers than those who opposed the rescue, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has found. The 237 who got the bill passed have received $87,063.44 on average from auto dealers, automakers and auto unions since 1989, while the 170 who voted against it received, on average, $80,756.80.

An 8 percent difference separated the auto-related campaign contributions of the bill's supporters from the opponents' haul. However, isolating the money by party, the gap was far wider. Auto manufacturers and dealers have historically been staunch Republicans, giving the GOP three-quarters of their contributions in the last 20 years. Because of the industry's Republican leanings, even Republicans who voted against lending the automakers' money Wednesday had received more money than Democrats who supported the bridge loan. Republicans' grip on the industry is loosening, however. In the 2008 cycle, the Big Three's PAC and individual contributions flipped to the side of the party that controls Congress. Auto unions remain solidly Democratic.  

House Democrats, who overwhelmingly supported the bill, received 44 percent more money, on average, from automakers, unions in the industry and auto dealers since 1989--$79,303.21 compared to $54,951.30 for the 20 Democrats who voted against the bill. The bill's 32 Republican supporters collected 62 percent more than opponents in their party--$136,777.44, versus $84,197.53 for the 150 Republicans who voted against the bailout package. (The Center for Responsive Politics has coded campaign finance data by industry back to the 1990 election cycle, or the calendar year 1989.)