The U.S. government still controls General Motors, meaning it’s really owned by American taxpayers. But the executives running GM don’t see a problem with them contributing nearly $100,000 in campaign contributions in an effort to influence congressional races that Americans themselves have a vested interest in.

 

“Last time I looked, you and I and every other U.S. taxpayer owned a majority of GM,” wrote Robert Reich, former labor secretary in the Clinton administration. “That means some of the money we’re earning as GM owners is being used to influence how we vote in the upcoming mid-term election.”

 

Reich adds: “To put it another way, we taxpayers are paying some people (GM executives) to tell us how we should vote for another group of people (House and Senate candidates) who will decide how our taxes will be used in the future.”

 

Among the 49 politicians to receive donations from the General Motors Political Action Committee (GM PAC) since July are Roy Blunt (R-Missouri), Dave Camp (R-Michigan), Dan Coats (R-Indiana), John Dingell (D-Michigan), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Charles Schumer (D-New York) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan).

 

The GM PAC also gave money to the Republican Party of Wisconsin, the Republican-oriented People for Enterprise, Trade and Economic Growth (PETE PAC) and the Democratic-oriented Building Relationships in Diverse Geographic Environments PAC (BRIDGE PAC).

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

GM Has No Business Using Our Money On Campaign Contributions (Robert Reich)

General Motors Company Political Action Committee (GM PAC) (Federal Election Commission)