Heavy with $963,275 in AT&T donations, lawmakers push for T-Mobile merger approval

By on Sep 21, 2011 at 5:30 PM
Legal September 21, 2011

The Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit against AT&T in an effort to block its planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA, but that has not stopped 100 lawmakers from signing a letter pushing the government to settle the suit and approve the merger. Interestingly, 99 of the House Republicans who signed the letter have accepted political donations from employees of AT&T within the last two years, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. A total of $963,275 had been donated to these lawmakers, according to the advocacy group Public Knowledge. The donations are still coming in, too. According to Bloomberg, Pete Olson, who already signed the letter, is holding a “Telecommunications Industry Lunch” on Thursday that is “backed by AT&T lobbyists.” Read on for more.

Those attending the lunch can reportedly choose to contribute $500, $1,000 or $2,500 to Olson’s campaign for a Congress seat. An Olson spokesperson said AT&T has not sponsored the event, however, and that AT&T is a supporter of his campaign because the company “[employs] thousands of people in the State of Texas.” The spokesman continued, “This letter simply urges the President to focus on creating jobs in America and bringing other jobs back from overseas to further strengthen our economic recovery.”

AT&T has long argued the merger will help create jobs, but the U.S. government has argued it will “remove a significant competitive force” from the U.S. wireless market. “This is why AT&T is so effective on Capitol Hill,” Public Citizen government affairs lobbyist Craig Holman told Bloomberg. “The game isn’t just lobbying activity, it’s making sure there’s an extensive fundraising apparatus that goes on full time. That’s exactly what played out here.” Bloomberg’s report names several other Democrats and Republicans who have accepted campaign contributions from AT&T and who have sent letters to the FCC and the Department of Justice asking for briefings or urging for the deal to be approved.

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  • Nbohmer

    This is like saying Obama supports Medical marijuana because people who sell it donated him.

    The article reads people who work for att. Att employs over 225,000 people. It’s not crazy to think that some of those people have donated to politicians that support their jobs.

  • Anonymous

    Holy crap! Republicans being bought by corporations?!?!? Getoutatown

  • Anonymous

    Well, United States can be corrupted as China or some 999th world countries.

  • Anonymous

    Glad i don’t have t mobile the minute they approve this deal the wireless market is going into flames and innovation will slow down

  • LibertarianJoe

    Both Dems and Republicans can be bought but I’m sure Republicans do it more.  It’s in their blood since they stick up for tax loopholes for wealthy corporations while cutting programs that help the middle class and the poor.  Republicans are great at convincing angry unemployed white males that ObamaCare, Green Energy, a belief in climate change, equal rights, minorities, illegals, old people, gay people, poor people, independent women and atheists are the reasons for our country’s ills, the reason they didn’t go to college and the reason why they don’t have a job…. and it works.  But somehow if we continue the Bush tax cuts that have been in place for the past 10 years that jobs will be created…

    • Anonymous

      Tell us how you really feel

      Jk thank fox news for their propaganda

  • Anonymous

    This article isn’t politically motivated at all. Only republicans, huh?

    Secondly, this is what’s wrong with our government. Political donations, both personal and corporate, misalign priorities for those serving.

  • Anonymous

    Ahh yes, it’s reassuring to know that we in the USA have the best government that money can buy.

  • john

    Another story of the little man getting bent over and the rich getting what they want. Honestly when is enough enough are country is broke people are loosing everything and the politicians that we put in office that are suppose to look out for us only care about their pocket book. I say we just get rid of everyone that is in office now, reform the system to a 2 term limit cut their pay and benefits and see how many stick around. At least those that stay are the ones who want to do it to help people not just themselves. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IKCYUO7RZ25GEU4RU3JMKMMVDY angryshortguy

    Bribes.
    In broad daylight.
    No shame.

    Fantastic…

  • Chadman

    The article actually says donations by employees of AT&T. What company of AT&T’s size doesn’t have enough employees that loads of cash haven’t been donated to every politician on the planet? Aren’t employees free to donate to whomever they wish, or are only the unemployed allowed to support political campaigns?

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