2009 Lobbying of Members of Congress: $3,470,000,000 (That's Three Billion.)

The Center for Responsive Politics reports corporations and other interest groups spent a total of $3.47 billion to lobby members of Congress. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce led the top ten lobbying clients, spending approximately $144 million. Number two was Exon-Mobil, at $27.4 million. Analysis by OpenSecrets.org here.

The general business sector, which encompasses an array of industries from retail sales to manufacturing to business associations, experienced a nearly 19 percent increase in its 2008-to-2009 lobbying expenditures. The more than $558 million spent by the general business sector in 2009 is a record for any of the 13 broad sectors that the Center tracks.

It is followed closely in 2009 by the health sector, which includes a variety of health-related industries. In 2009, this sector spent nearly $544 million on federal lobbying efforts, up almost 12 percent from its 2008 total of about $487 million.

Money in politics. And what did it get us in 2009? Hmmm. Consider supporting Proposition 15, the California Fair Elections Act on the June ballot. Learn more this Sunday at a passion raiser starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Main branch of the City Library. Do something now toward achieving elections money can't buy. LLII.

Clean Money, As a Brief Respite from Healthcare Reform (Though Hardly Unrelated)

There is good news and bad on the clean money front. The good news is that two of Washington, D.C.'s most reliable and respected non-partisan watchdogs joined forces today and released a comprehensive database linking campaign contributions with earmarked spending by lawmakers. Check this out. It's a fabulously user-friendly resource. For 2008, see how involved your representative was in seeking earmarked money and, in riveting detail, who contributed how much related to the earmark.

The good news is the database provides transparency. The bad news is reinforcement of just how pernicious campaign financing is. Help is on the way, in the form of campaign finance reform on both the state and federal level. The California Fair Elections Act is officially on the June 2010 California ballot. Look for clean money people out and about at fairs, festivals, and street corners this fall. Learn more, refresh your motivation, talk to your neighbors and friends - here's informational support thanks to the California Clean Money Campaign. The League of Women Voters supports clean money. LLII.

Healthcare Reform - No letting up.

Did you hear NPR this morning? Senator Chris Dodd and another Congressional rep assured us that mixing fundraising from healthcare special interests while drafting healthcare legislation doesn't affect their decision-making, or distract them from keen advocacy for their constituents. All together now: eye-roll. Seriously: it's to be expected that all of Congress are booked for events with healthcare special interests (some may even have views we support), now through the date of the August vote on the legislation.

We know we need healthcare reform that gives us affordable care designed to both keep us healthy or restore us to good health. I for one am weary of the emails asking me to tell my representatives I still care about the subject. But last night at a LWVSF advocacy meeting, I heard an impassioned recitation of the systemic miseries defective healthcare creates. I was reminded that lobbying only gets more intense as a vote looms; the promises more lucrative and irresistible.

We voters, one voice becoming many, must provide balance. Most of us may not be able to substantially add to a campaign coffers but we can, one voice becoming many, firmly promise that disappointment will result in turning people out of office. Opening those emails, then clicking to send the messages to your reps actually works.

Over these next critical weeks, let's try to click and send in support of healthcare reform - whatever reform you believe to be best for your family and friends - at every opportunity. I will. If the money people can stay motivated, so must we. After all, we have more to lose, and to gain! LLII.