Here, from The Verge, is a list of the members of Congress, all Republicans, who voted in favor of S.J.Res.34, along with the total contributions they received from the telecommunications industry in their most recent electoral campaigns. I am surprised to see my House representative, John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15), doing so well. In his most recent (2016) campaign, he received $104,425 in telecommunications contributions. Only twelve senators and three representatives received more money from telecommunications in their most recent campaigns. Shimkus had no opponent in the general election, only a Republican primary challenger. To paraphrase an old song: they’ve got an awful lot of money in east-central Illinois.
No doubt many Democratic members of Congress received contributions from the telecommunications industry as well. This list has only the names of those members of Congress who voted for S.J.Res.34. Two Republican senators did not vote. Fifteen House Republicans voted no; six House Republicans and three House Democrats did not vote.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
John Shimkus and S.J.Res.34
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comments: 2
Your unenviable Shimkus seems a real prize! Even his name screams "vintage villain" to my ears. Lately I've been thinking--and ranting--about "bad patriots". I think this resolution has served up a real buffet of them. [There is so much "I'm a 'Real American'!" or "Well, I LOVE America!", and etc., all delivered with speaking looks and pauses in political talk these years. I began wondering what they really mean when they say that, and comparing them to my (self-informed, of course) factual, actions-evaluation-based measure.]
Are people just stupid--thus they care nothing for this sell-out, but gun rights are the hill they are champing at the bit to die on?
It’s baffling and saddening. Shimkus has gotten where he is at least in part because he believes in (or claims to believe in) the false promise of coal.
The Illinois legislature is already at work on Internet privacy stuff. So strange to see the idea of states’ rights becoming an element in progressive politics. (Though I don’t believe that individual privacy has to be considered a progressive cause.)
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