WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Corporate money has been flowing freely to U.S. Republican leaders, including millions of dollars from healthcare companies, documents show.
The Washington Post said the healthcare industry has contributed about $5 million to Republicans in two years, with about $2 million going to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. Cantor received $5.6 million in corporate contributions for the 2010 election cycle, 40 percent more than he did in 2008, the newspaper said, citing data on corporate contributions supplied by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Cantor got $2.6 million in contributions from banking and financial services, the Post said. Other beneficiaries included the chairmen of key committees, Dave Camp, R-Mich., of Ways and Means, Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the Government Oversight and Regulatory Committee, got about $750,000 in corporate contributions. He recently sent letters to business leaders asking which regulations they thought should be repealed to create jobs.
"The idea that talking to job creators about job creation has some sort of sinister motivation is ridiculous, especially when the president is doing the same thing," said Kurt Bardella, an Issa spokesman. "We're more than happy to hear from all sides."
