Johnson gets high marks for low special interest money

October 22, 2006

Public Citizen, an organization founded by Ralph Nader and which favors public funding of congressional elections, nonetheless has generally good things to say about U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson's campaign finance philosophy.

In a recent ranking of congressmen, the Urbana Republican came out with the best overall score among the 19-member Illinois delegation and one of the best scores among 433 members of Congress rated.

Congressmen were ranked according to the amount of campaign money they received from small donors versus large ones, on the amount they got from out of state contributors, on the amount they received from political action committees and on contributions from lobbyists. Johnson's overall rank was No. 417 of 433 congressmen rated.

His best score (No. 409) was in the amount he received from out of state donors. According to campaign finance reports through June 30, only 8 percent of Johnson's campaign money came from out of state interests. A more recent analysis, by Political MoneyLine, covers all 2005 and 2006 campaign contributions and found that, among individual donors, Johnson got $30,512 from Illinoisans and $5,450 from people outside Illinois. By comparison, most other Illinois congressmen got from 58 percent to 11 percent of their campaign money from outside Illinois.

Johnson was ranked No. 364 in the small donors rating, having received about 47 percent of his contributions in amounts of $200 or less. Three other Illinois congressmen, including retiring Rep. Henry Hyde (at 69.5 percent) had an even better small donor score. Rep. Mark Kirk, on the other hand, got just 21 percent of his campaign contributions in small donations. Kirk, a Kenilworth Republican, represents what is probably the wealthiest district in Illinois.

In another area, Johnson got just 28 percent of his campaign contributions from political action committees, good enough for a ranking of No. 348. Most other members of the Illinois delegation got significantly more money from PACs, ranging from Rep. John Shimkus' 52.5 percent and Danny Davis 51 percent to Hyde's 18.7 percent. Johnson also received an unusual amount, for a Republican, of money from organized labor PACs. Through June 30, Johnson got $174,206 from business PACs and $41,928 from labor PACs. More recently, for only the years 2005 and 2006, Political MoneyLine reports that Johnson has received $47,000 from organized labor groups. That's more than any other segment. By comparison, Johnson got $18,500 from agriculture interests, $10,500 from energy and natural resources interests and $10,000 from real estate and construction groups.

Johnson ranked 377th in the amount of campaign contributions from lobbyists, with $16,750, or $4,907 per election cycle. Most other members of the Illinois delegation took significantly more, per election cycle, from lobbyists. House Speaker Dennis Hastert received $16,215 per cycle. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, got $34,769, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Chicago, got $22,445 and Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville, got $6,513.

Overall, Johnson continues to rely on campaign contributions at a much lower rate than most other congressmen. According to Political MoneyLine, Johnson has received $274,534 in this election cycle. Most other Illinois congressmen have taken in more than $1 million, ranging from Hastert's $4.5 million and Rep. Melissa Bean's $3.5 million to Rep. Jerry Weller's $1.8 million and LaHood's $1 million.

And while Johnson represents an overwhelmingly Republican district, where he won 61 percent of the vote in 2004, most other Illinois congressmen also have big advantages in their districts. Weller, for example, won re-election two years ago with 58.6 percent and LaHood got 70 percent in his race in 2004.

"He doesn't like to put a lot of time and energy into raising money," said Johnson spokesman Phil Bloomer. "He doesn't spend much time in Washington with lobbyists. He finds a lot of that distasteful.

"Tim's view is that if he serves his district well, he doesn't need a big war chest."