Record Political Contributions From Defense Industry Going to Republicans
The nation’s biggest defense contractors are on pace to make record amounts of political contributions this election cycle. Unfortunately for Democrats, the vast majority is going to the GOP.
In 2008, defense contractors made $24,607,268 in political contributions, with 51 percent going to Democrats, according to Opensecrets.org, which tracks such spending. This time around, the companies have already spent $15,383,513, putting them on pace to more than double their 2008 contributions, according to Opensecrets.org. Republicans have received 60 percent of that money.
Two words explain the disparity: budget cuts. Defense contractors see Republicans as their strongest allies in their increasingly desperate push to block – or minimize – up to $1 trillion in potential Pentagon spending reductions. Republicans’ promises to shield the contractors may amount to no more than election-year political rhetoric, but the defense industry is rewarding those it sees as its friends.
