Washington District of Bribery: How CISPA Corp Lobbyists Outspent Opponents 151 to 1

[HOLLYWOOD]

See the link for Sunlight foundation's breakdown of money: 38 to 1 just bribing for this CISPA bill and 151 to 1 since 2011.

Sunlight Labs: https://data.sunlightlabs.com/dataset/CISPA-Proponents/p8gn-c3hr

http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/how-cispa-opponents-were-outspent-by-industry-lobbyists-38-to-1-20130422?mrefid=earthbox

How CISPA Opponents Were Outspent by Industry Lobbyists, 38 to 1

In the cybersecurity fight, one side has the money, but so far it can't get it's way.
By Brian Fung (http://www.nationaljournal.com/reporters/bio/180)
Updated: April 22, 2013 | 1:56 p.m.
http://cdn-media.nationaljournal.com/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=27356&format=homepage_fullwidth (http://cdn-media.nationaljournal.com/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=27356&width=990&height=)
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., left, and and the committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, D-Md., are two of CISPA's biggest backers. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Last week, the House approved CISPA (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/apr/18/house-representatives-cispa-cybersecurity-white-house-warning), the House cybersecurity bill that’s long rankled privacy advocates -- not to mention the White House, which issued a presidential veto threat in response to the action.
The Obama administration’s warning is a sign that CISPA may already be dead. But for now, at least, its supporters in industry who want to be able to share information on cyber threats with the government and other companies can boast some momentum.
It was an expensive win. According to data from the Sunlight Foundation, CISPA allies have spent $605 million (https://data.sunlightlabs.com/dataset/Lobbying-totals-by-CISPA-proponents/5brg-ruk9) lobbying for the bill since 2011. The biggest spenders were the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which blew $163 million on the measure, and AT&T, which spent $34 million. In all, 52 groups donated at least $100,000 each to push CISPA through the House.

Those figures dwarf the other side’s spending. Opponents of the bill spent a grand total of $4.3 million (https://data.sunlightlabs.com/dataset/Lobbying-totals-by-CISPA-opponents/jhe8-cki6) in Congress fighting the measure. For a better idea of what that looks like, for every $1 spent by critics like the American Civil Liberties Union, proponents of CISPA spent nearly $38.

While most everything in this battle looks similar to the one that took place last year over CISPA, there’s one key difference: a surge of Democratic support (http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240182025/Democrats-support-Cispa-cyber-bill-despite-White-House-veto-threat). That probably won’t change the outcome if the White House is set on rejecting the bill. It’s an indication, though, that recent rhetoric -- fueled by high-profile hacking attempts on major businesses this year -- may be having an effect.
But this might be the most important takeaway of all: Despite being vastly outspent, the bill’s opponents still hold the advantage.

http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee332/McLieberman/CISPA_zpsc475f0a5.png

[Brian4Liberty]

Yep. And Mike Rogers wants to run for Senate.

Related:

Mike Rogers is learning from the biggest cronies, like Feinstein.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130417/16253022748/oh-look-rep-mike-rogers-wife-stands-to-benefit-greatly-cispa-passing.shtml


It would appear that Rep. Mike Rogers, the main person in Congress pushing for CISPA, has kept rather quiet about a very direct conflict of interest that calls into serious question the entire bill. It would appear that Rogers' wife stands to benefit quite a lot from the passage of CISPA, and has helped in the push to get the bill passed. It's somewhat amazing that no one has really covered this part of the story, but it highlights, yet again, the kind of activities by folks in Congress that make the public trust Congress less and less.
...
So it seems rather interesting to note that Rogers' wife, Kristi Clemens Rogers, was, until recently, the president and CEO of Aegis LLC a "security" defense contractor company, whom she helped to secure a $10 billion (with a b) contract with the State Department. The company describes itself as "a leading private security company, provides government and corporate clients with a full spectrum of intelligence-led, culturally-sensitive security solutions to operational and development challenges around the world."

Hmm. Sounds like a company like that would benefit greatly to seeing a big ramp up in cybersecurity FUD around the globe, and, with it, big budgets by various government agencies to spend on such things. Indeed, just a few months ago, Rogers penned an article for Washington Life Magazine all about evil hackers trying to "steal information." In it, there's a line that might sound a wee-bit familiar, referring to the impression of hackers as being "the teenager in his or her parent's basement with bunny slippers and a Mountain Dew." Apparently, both of the Rogers really have a thing about teens in basements. The article is typical FUD, making statements with no proof, including repeating the NSA's ridiculous allegation that hackers have led to the "greatest transfer of wealth in American history." It's such a good line, except that it's completely untrue. The top US companies have recently admitted to absolutely no damage from such attacks. The article also lumps in "hacktivists" like Anonymous, as if they're a part of this grand conspiracy that needs new laws.
...

[Brian4Liberty]

What is it with Michigan Republicans being the biggest Corporatist tools? Spencer Abraham was the same way.