How much money does Joe Biden take from credit card companies?

[imenja]

Looking over the votes on today's bankruptcy bill, I noticed that Joe Biden voted with the Republicans against two of the amendments designed to limit the bill's punitive effects on Americans. He also voted with Republicans on a cloture motion. I have heard that Delaware is the credit card capital of America. Did he vote against these provisions because of pressure by the companies, or might there be some other reason? I'm not wonkish enough to know exactly what all these amendments would have covered. I welcome comments from anyone who can shed light on the subject.

I'm used to seeing certain Democrats cross the isles: the Nelsons, Lieberman, etc.... but I expect better from Biden.


Biden's voting record on the bankruptcy legislation is as follows:

He voted against: Dodd Amdt. No. 67; To modify the bill to protect families, and for other purposes.

Feingold Amdt No. 89 ; To strike certain small business related bankruptcy provisions in the bill.

He also voted with the Republicans on yesterday's Motion To Invoke Cloture On Bill S. 256; Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.

He voted for (with most of the Democrats) on: Kennedy Amdt. No. 68; To provide a maximum amount for a homestead exemption under State law.

Boxer Amdt. No. 62; To provide for the potential disallowance of certain claims.

Harkin Amdt. No. 66; To increase the accrual period for the employee wage priority in bankruptcy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. plenty and accordign to Malloy

his son is a manager for MNBA

[MaineDem]

2. Fact on Snowe and Collins as well:

Credit Card giant MBNA was the largest individual contributor to Republicans last year and was also the largest contributor for both Snowe and Collins during their last elections.

This from TPM:
Since 1989, the industry has contributed more than $40 million to candidates and parties that promise to toe the industry line. The senator who has raised the most in her career from the industry is Olympia Snowe (R-ME). Snowe has brought in over $316,000 from the credit industry, most of it from the political action committee of MBNA, the nation's top credit card issuer. To make matters worse, Snowe's husband, former Maine Governor John McKernan, has worked as a paid consultant for MBNA. For more info on the political power of the industry, visit this site.

Olympia Snowe is a moderate Republican who has, during her career, won victories for middle class women. Today she plans to sell them out for a measly $316,000.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/bankruptcy/

[imenja]

4. MBNA has a PAC?

What the hell happened to campaign finance reform? What could the purpose of such an organization be other than to bribe politicians?
I am starting to believe we have the most corrupt political system on earth. In other countries, politicians are illegally bought off with money under the table. Here, the money goes over the table because the cleptocracy is LEGAL. It's outrageous.

[AirAmFan]

3. Opensecrets.org is the ultimate source of most of the BRIBE statistics

you'll see. And it is free and open to everyone.

For the industries whose traceable "contributions" may be influencing Joe Biden's votes, go to http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?CID=N00001669&cycle=2004 and you'll see finance and credit card companies were third on his list.

To explain some of the other Dem turncoats on bankruptcy,
http://www.opensecrets.org/cmteprofiles/profiles.asp?CmteID=S06&Cmte=SBAN&Cycle=2002&CongNo=107&Chamber=S&Indus=F06 shows who on the Senate Banking Committee got money from finance and credit card companies during the election cycle ending in 2002. If I'm reading the bar graphs correctly, the top three bribe-ees were DEMOCRATS, including Carper (DE) and Johnson (SD). The grand prize winner from credit card companies was Schumer (NY), who either stiffed his benefactors or has found a way to help them frame the issues in their favor behind the scenes. so that they win regardless the way votes on amendments go.

[housewolf]

5. This might help explain Biden & others

Here's a post from a House Dem aide that helps to explain what's going on with Biden and some of the others


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1650481&mesg_id=1650481&page=

[SteveG]

6. Columnist explains it in local column

Al Mascitti explains it pretty well in a column in today's Wilmington News Journal - the main newspaper in the State.

Delaware's senators, Joe Biden and Tom Carper, both Democrats, not only supported the legislation but pushed hard for it. Some people might think their position can be traced to copious campaign donations from credit card banks, particularly MBNA. But there's a better reason: More than 16,000 Delawareans work in the industry. Forget the money - even if the banks didn't contribute a dime, that's a lot of voters.

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/mascitti/03102005.html