WASHINGTON – A new book detailing the political contributions and practices of nearly 5,000 companies goes on sale today, providing consumers with a powerful tool in helping them vote with their wallets.
‘The Blue Pages: A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices’, written by Angie Crouse and the Center for Responsive Politics (PoliPointPress, November 2, 2009), is the second edition of this best-selling pocket directory. The Center for Responsive Politics provided the data used throughout the book.
In it, businesses are organized alphabetically into 13 sectors covering cars, clothes, computers, insurance, financial, food and beverage, health and beauty, home and garden, media and entertainment, telecommunications and Internet, and travel and leisure.
Each entry describes unique features of companies? business practices that may include charitable causes, social programs, labor practices, domestic partner and child-care benefits, nondiscrimination policies and treatment of disabled employees. It also explains whether a company contributes more money to Republicans or Democrats, and how much.
New to The Blue Pages, Second Edition is the reporting of federal lobbying expenditures, which in 2008 totaled $3.3 billion. Additionally, the new edition expands listings with environmental policies and practices of the companies tracked. Each sector overview opens with commentary from an expert in the field.
Brimming with current and often surprising information, The Blue Pages will educate
consumers of all political leaning. Here?s just a sample of the information found in The Blue Pages, Second Edition:
*AT&T – Total contributions to Republican Party: $2,875,123; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $2,531,482; Lobby Spending: $32,214,784;
*ExxonMobil – Total contributions to Republican Party: $1,085,223; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $333,799; Lobby Spending: $45,940,000;
*Google – Total contributions to Republican Party: $326,323; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $1,503,549; Lobbying Spending: $4,360,000;
*Pfizer – Total contributions to Republican Party: $1,048,363; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $1,115,048; Lobby Spending: $26,410,000;
*Starbucks – Total contributions to Republican Party: $10,392; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $139,894; Lobby Spending: $1,028,000;
*Wal-Mart Stores – Total contributions to Republican Party: $922,498; Total contributions to Democratic Party: $741,228; Lobby Spending: $10,590,000.
The ideal gift for the political junkie or any conscientious shopper, The Blue Pages is slim and portable, and slips into a backpack, glove compartment or purse. This useful resource allows consumers to make more informed decisions by following corporate spending and policies, thus staying true to their political views when spending their money.
‘ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Angie Crouse is a political researcher who has worked on Joe Conason’s The Raw Deal and The Great Divide: Retro vs. Metro America by John Sperling et al.’
‘The Center for Responsive Politics is a nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C., that tracks money in politics and its effect on elections and public policy. The center conducts computer-based research on political finance for the news media, academics, activists and the public at large. Its work, featured at OpenSecrets.org, is aimed at creating a more educated voter, an involved citizenry, and a more transparent and responsive government.’