Friday, February 06, 2009

TARPS ROI 258,449 percent - TARP Recipients Paid Out $114 Million for Politicking Last Year

The companies that have been awarded taxpayers' money from Congress's bailout bill spent $77 million on lobbying and $37 million on federal campaign contributions, Center finds. The return on investment: 258,449 percent.

WASHINGTON--(This release has been corrected to reflect that Bank of America has received $45 billion, not $55 billion, from the TARP program. The $45 billion includes $10 billion that Merrill Lynch received before being acquired by Bank of America. An earlier version of this release incorrectly added Merrill Lynch's $10 billion to Bank of America's $45 billion. Adjustments to the figures in the original release are in bold below.) The struggling companies whose freewheeling business practices have contributed to the country's economic woes are getting a lucrative return on at least one of their investments. Beneficiaries of the $700 billion bailout package in the finance and automotive industries have spent a total of $114.2 million on lobbying in the past year and contributions toward the 2008 election, the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics has found. The companies' political activities have, in part, yielded them $295.2 billion from the federal government's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), an extraordinary return of 258,449 percent. "Even in the best economic times, you won't find an investment with a greater payoff than what these companies have been getting," said Sheila Krumholz, the Center's executive director. "Some of the companies and industries that have received payments may now consider their contributions and lobbying to be the smartest investments they've made in years." While the Treasury Department, not Congress, doles out TARP funds to specific institutions, congressional lawmakers had to authorize that money in the first place, and lawmakers will determine in the future whether to release more funds to prop up the U.S. economy. During the bill-writing process, members of Congress were able to specify to some extent where the money should go, and they have lobbied regulators to urge them to inject funds into specific banks and financial institutions, including those in lawmakers' own districts. "Taxpayers hope their money is being allocated entirely on the merits, but with Congress controlling how much money the Treasury gets to hand out, it will be impossible to completely exclude politics from this process," Krumholz said. Some of the top recipients of contributions from companies receiving TARP money are the same members of Congress who chair committees charged with regulating the financial sector and overseeing the effectiveness of this unprecedented government program. They include Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (he received $854,200 from the companies in the 2008 election cycle, including money to his presidential campaign) and Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, chair of the Senate Finance Committee (he received $279,000). In total, members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Senate Finance Committee and House Financial Services Committee received $5.2 million from TARP recipients in the 2007-2008 election cycle. President Obama collected at least $4.3 million from employees at these companies for his presidential campaign.

Some, Not All, TARP Recipients Hired Lobbyists

Of the more than 300 companies that have been aided by TARP, 25 paid lobbyists a total of $76.7 million to represent them on Capitol Hill in 2008. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said recently that institutions collecting these funds won't be allowed to lobby the federal government going forward. In the 4th Quarter of 2008, when Congress was crafting bailout legislation, these companies spent $17.8 million on lobbying--less than what they spent in the prior three quarters, probably because they were strapped for cash.

In total, 161 companies approved for TARP money gave $37.5 million to federal candidates, parties and committees in the 2007-2008 election cycle, with 57 percent of that going to Democrats (post-election data is not yet available). The employees of these companies, rather than their political action committees, gave the bulk of that, at $26.1 million, or 70 percent. These two groups of donors seem to have differed in their partisan allegiance--individual employees gave 61 percent of their donations to Democrats, while PACs were more evenly divided, giving 51 percent to Republicans. Some of the companies to give the most in contributions, including Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, are also among the biggest donors of all time to U.S. politics.

The companies giving the most to fund lawmakers' campaigns and spending the most on lobbying efforts were also those that received the most TARP money to help them stay afloat. This includes General Motors, which spent $15 million between campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures and got $10.4 billion (more than all other companies), Bank of America (and the investment company it bought last year, Merrill Lynch), which spent $14.5 million to play politics and received $45 billion from the bailout bill; and American International Group (AIG), which spent $10.6 million and was paid out $40 billion. Citigroup was also one of the largest spenders to see a big result: between lobbying expenditures and campaign contributions, the company spent $12.5 million and got $50 billion. For a complete list of TARP recipients that spent money on campaign contributions and lobbying, see the chart below. "TARP needs to be far more transparent," Krumholz of CRP said. "Hundreds of billions of dollars have already been handed out with little more than a one-line announcement. What qualified these companies for the money they're getting? What disqualified other companies? What contact has there been between members of Congress and the Treasury? What contact have lobbyists had with Congress and Treasury? These are reasonable questions, and taxpayers deserve answers." The finance, insurance and real estate sector, including all companies and trade groups (not just those that qualified for TARP funds), spent $453.5 million on lobbying in 2008, an 8.7 percent increase from the year before. In the last quarter of '08, the sector spent $106.9 million on its influence-peddling efforts. The securities and investment industry spent $20.5 million in the 4th Quarter, insurance companies spent $36.7 million and real estate companies spent $16.5 million. And although this was a decrease from the 3rd Quarter for each of these industries, they had plenty of additional support. Trade associations in the finance, insurance and real estate sector spent $123 million on lobbying last year, more than they spent in each of the three years prior.

On its award-winning website, OpenSecrets.org, the Center for Responsive Politics tracks both campaign contributions to federal lawmakers and lobbying expenditures by organization, industry and sector. CRP calculated the numbers in this report by mashing up these databases with a list of TARP recipients accessed Feb. 2, 2009, from Treasury.gov. Post-election contribution data is not yet available but should be incorporated into OpenSecrets.org in the coming weeks. ABOUT THE CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS The Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy. For 25 years the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center has aimed to create a more educated voter, an involved citizenry and a more responsive government. CRP's award-winning website, OpenSecrets.org, is the most comprehensive resource for campaign contributions, lobbying data and analysis available anywhere. For other organizations and news media, CRP's exclusive data powers their online features tracking money in politics. CRP relies on support from a combination of foundation grants and individual contributions. The Center accepts no contributions from businesses, labor unions or trade associations.

Return on Investment Total campaign contributions and lobbying by TARP recipients*

Company Campaign Contributions, 07-08 Cycle Lobbying Expenditures, 2008 TARP Payment Return on Investment
Bank of America Corp**
$5,752,630
$8,790,000
$45,000,000,000
309335%
Citigroup Inc.
$4,799,678
$7,660,000
$50,000,000,000
401194%
AIG
$929,774
$9,690,000
$40,000,000,000
376556%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
$4,778,638
$5,390,000
$25,000,000,000
245754%
Wells Fargo & Company
$1,553,471
$1,200,740
$25,000,000,000
907601%
General Motors Corporation
$916,142
$14,071,000
$10,400,000,000
69293%
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
$5,690,351
$3,280,000
$10,000,000,000
111378%
Morgan Stanley
$3,689,027
$3,120,000
$10,000,000,000
146764%
The PNC Financial Services Group Inc.
$68,525
$0
$7,579,200,000
11060389%
U.S. Bancorp
$496,461
$570,000
$6,599,000,000
618676%
Chrysler Holding LLC
$1,075,350
$7,927,782
$5,500,000,000
60990%
GMAC LLC
$72,207
$4,620,000
$5,000,000,000
106460%
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
$175,903
$0
$4,850,000,000
2757101%
Capital One Financial Corporation
$700,161
$1,132,000
$3,555,199,000
193944%
Regions Financial Corp.
$161,775
$180,000
$3,500,000,000
1023966%
Fifth Third Bancorp
$149,550
$80,000
$3,408,000,000
1484544%
American Express Company
$1,028,038
$3,790,000
$3,389,000,000
70240%
BB&T Corp.
$262,737
$0
$3,133,640,000
1192591%
Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
$886,701
$558,402
$3,000,000,000
207498%
KeyCorp
$159,280
$210,000
$2,500,000,000
676893%
CIT Group Inc.
$23,200
$90,000
$2,330,000,000
2058204%
Comerica Inc.
$210,538
$0
$2,250,000,000
1068591%
State Street Corporation
$152,627
$980,000
$2,000,000,000
176481%
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
$57,400
$0
$1,715,000,000
2987705%
Northern Trust Corporation
$240,892
$0
$1,576,000,000
654135%
Zions Bancorporation
$117,159
$60,000
$1,400,000,000
790151%
Huntington Bancshares
$188,700
$232,971
$1,398,071,000
331455%
Synovus Financial Corp.
$10,150
$0
$967,870,000
9535565%
Popular, Inc.
$12,700
$390,000
$935,000,000
232083%
First Horizon National Corporation
$30,050
$0
$866,540,000
2883561%
M&T Bank Corporation
$3,500
$10,000
$600,000,000
4444344%
City National Corporation
$262,965
$0
$400,000,000
152011%
Webster Financial Corporation
$14,850
$0
$400,000,000
2693503%
First Bancorp
$4,900
$0
$400,000,000
8163165%
Fulton Financial Corporation
$5,700
$0
$376,500,000
6605163%
TCF Financial Corporation
$103,300
$0
$361,172,000
349534%
South Financial Group, Inc.
$29,100
$0
$347,000,000
1192340%
Wilmington Trust Corporation
$59,850
$0
$330,000,000
551278%
East West Bancorp
$4,800
$0
$306,546,000
6386275%
Sterling Financial Corporation
$5,750
$0
$303,000,000
5269465%
Whitney Holding Corporation
$27,950
$0
$300,000,000
1073245%
Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc
$6,850
$0
$300,000,000
4379462%
Valley National Bancorp
$950
$0
$300,000,000
31578847%
UCBH Holdings, Inc.
$42,750
$0
$298,737,000
698700%
New York Private Bank & Trust Corporation
$6,350
$0
$267,000,000
4204624%
Cathay General Bancorp
$2,500
$0
$258,000,000
10319900%
Wintrust Financial Corporation
$4,401
$0
$250,000,000
5680427%
SVB Financial Group
$18,300
$0
$235,000,000
1284053%
International Bancshares Corporation
$116,100
$0
$216,000,000
185947%
Trustmark Corporation
$6,500
$0
$215,000,000
3307592%
Umpqua Holdings Corp.
$650
$0
$214,181,000
32950823%
MB Financial Inc.
$15,150
$0
$196,000,000
1293629%
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
$1,750
$0
$193,000,000
11028471%
Pacific Capital Bancorp
$500
$480,000
$180,634,000
37493%
United Community Banks, Inc.
$12,250
$0
$180,000,000
1469288%
Boston Private Financial Holdings, Inc.
$6,400
$0
$154,000,000
2406150%
Independent Bank Corp.
$2,250
$0
$150,000,000
6666567%
National Penn Bancshares, Inc.
$1,500
$0
$150,000,000
9999900%
Dickinson Financial Corporation
$94,050
$0
$146,000,000
155137%
Central Pacific Financial Corp.
$19,750
$0
$135,000,000
683444%
Sterling Bancshares, Inc.
$9,150
$0
$125,198,000
1368184%
FirstMerit Corp.
$4,500
$0
$125,000,000
2777678%
Banner Corporation
$6,140
$0
$124,000,000
2019444%
Signature Bank
$7,875
$0
$120,000,000
1523710%
1st Source Corporation
$450
$0
$111,000,000
24666567%
S&T Bancorp
$3,200
$0
$109,000,000
3406150%
Park National Corporation
$10,500
$0
$100,000,000
952281%
Old National Bancorp
$8,250
$0
$100,000,000
1212021%
F.N.B. Corporation
$1,000
$0
$100,000,000
9999900%
Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.
$29,850
$0
$95,000,000
318158%
Iberiabank Corporation
$2,000
$0
$90,000,000
4499900%
Plains Capital Corporation
$59,650
$0
$87,631,000
146809%
Midwest Banc Holdings, Inc.
$2,800
$0
$84,784,000
3027900%
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.
$250
$0
$83,094,000
33237500%
Columbia Banking System, Inc.
$2,500
$0
$76,898,000
3075820%
TowneBank
$4,750
$0
$76,458,000
1609542%
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.
$18,150
$0
$75,000,000
413123%
Bank of the Ozarks, Inc.
$11,150
$0
$75,000,000
672546%
Wesbanco Bank Inc.
$208
$0
$75,000,000
36057592%
Green Bankshares, Inc.
$1,200
$0
$72,278,000
6023067%
Virginia Commerce Bancorp
$8,850
$0
$71,000,000
802160%
Southwest Bancorp, Inc.
$50,650
$0
$70,000,000
138103%
Flushing Financial Corporation
$2,300
$0
$70,000,000
3043378%
Superior Bancorp Inc.
$250
$0
$69,000,000
27599900%
Nara Bancorp, Inc.
$2,000
$0
$67,000,000
3349900%
First Bancorp
$2,650
$0
$65,000,000
2452730%
SCBT Financial Corporation
$250
$0
$65,000,000
25999900%
CoBiz Financial Inc.
$1,000
$0
$64,450,000
6444900%
Union Bankshares Corporation
$1,000
$0
$59,000,000
5899900%
Liberty Bancshares, Inc.
$20,900
$0
$58,000,000
277412%
Great Southern Bancorp
$2,500
$0
$58,000,000
2319900%
WSFS Financial Corporation
$21,550
$0
$53,000,000
245840%
Ameris Bancorp
$1,000
$0
$52,000,000
5199900%
State Bankshares, Inc.
$4,800
$0
$50,000,000
1041567%
Home Bancshares, Inc.
$1,500
$0
$50,000,000
3333233%
Fidelity Southern Corporation
$300
$0
$48,200,000
16066567%
MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.
$1,500
$0
$45,000,000
2999900%
Cadence Financial Corporation
$8,250
$0
$44,000,000
533233%
Exchange Bank
$2,750
$0
$43,000,000
1563536%
Sterling Bancorp
$1,300
$0
$42,000,000
3230669%
Eagle Bancorp, Inc.
$801
$0
$38,235,000
4773308%
Bridgeview Bancorp, Inc.
$6,600
$0
$38,000,000
575658%
OceanFirst Financial Corp.
$3,300
$0
$38,000,000
1151415%
First Defiance Financial Corp.
$2,000
$0
$37,000,000
1849900%
State Bancorp, Inc.
$6,850
$0
$36,842,000
537739%
Fidelity Financial Corporation
$1,657,052
$2,190,000
$36,282,000
843%
Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation
$1,250
$0
$36,000,000
2879900%
West Bancorporation, Inc.
$250
$0
$36,000,000
14399900%
Porter Bancorp
$5,000
$0
$35,000,000
699900%
Encore Bancshares Inc.
$4,300
$0
$34,000,000
790598%
First Security Group, Inc.
$3,350
$0
$33,000,000
984975%
Centrue Financial Corporation
$1,000
$0
$33,000,000
3299900%
Pulaski Financial Corp
$1,000
$0
$33,000,000
3299900%
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation
$2,300
$0
$28,685,000
1247074%
Centerstate Banks of Florida Inc.
$500
$0
$27,875,000
5574900%
Citizens & Northern Corporation
$700
$0
$26,000,000
3714186%
Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.
$2,125
$0
$25,054,000
1178912%
Shore Bancshares, Inc.
$3,800
$0
$25,000,000
657795%
Horizon Bancorp
$2,600
$0
$25,000,000
961438%
Intervest Bancshares Corporation
$2,300
$0
$25,000,000
1086857%
HF Financial Corp.
$250
$0
$25,000,000
9999900%
Heritage Financial Corporation
$1,250
$0
$24,000,000
1919900%
Wainwright Bank & Trust Company
$15,250
$0
$22,000,000
144162%
Citizens South Banking Corporation
$750
$0
$20,500,000
2733233%
First Financial Service Corporation
$7,325
$0
$20,000,000
272938%
BNCCORP, Inc.
$5,050
$0
$20,000,000
395940%
C&F Financial Corporation
$250
$0
$20,000,000
7999900%
Carver Bancorp, Inc
$5,300
$0
$19,000,000
358391%
Bar Harbor Bankshares/Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
$500
$0
$19,000,000
3799900%
Security Federal Corporation
$1,250
$0
$18,000,000
1439900%
ECB Bancorp, Inc./East Carolina Bank
$1,000
$0
$18,000,000
1799900%
Timberland Bancorp, Inc.
$430
$0
$16,641,000
3869900%
Carolina Bank Holdings, Inc.
$1,250
$0
$16,000,000
1279900%
BankFirst Capital Corporation
$500
$0
$16,000,000
3199900%
Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc.
$1,997
$0
$14,700,000
736004%
Magna Bank
$2,250
$0
$13,795,000
613011%
Morrill Bancshares, Inc.
$3,100
$0
$13,000,000
419255%
LCNB Corp.
$1,000
$0
$13,000,000
1299900%
OneUnited Bank
$3,550
$0
$12,063,000
339703%
First Manitowoc Bancorp, Inc.
$2,500
$0
$12,000,000
479900%
1st Constitution Bancorp
$2,000
$0
$12,000,000
599900%
Pacific Coast Bankers' Bancshares
$250
$0
$11,600,000
4639900%
Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc.
$1,800
$0
$10,000,000
555456%
Uwharrie Capital Corp
$1,500
$0
$10,000,000
666567%
Midland States Bancorp
$500
$0
$10,000,000
1999900%
New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares, Inc.
$500
$0
$10,000,000
1999900%
Citizens First Corporation
$74,700
$0
$8,779,000
11652%
Syringa Bancorp
$750
$0
$8,000,000
1066567%
First Sound Bank
$2,716
$0
$7,400,000
272359%
Western Community Bancshares, Inc.
$5,600
$0
$7,290,000
130079%
Fidelity Bancorp, Inc.
$5,100
$0
$7,000,000
137155%
Somerset Hills Bancorp
$2,000
$0
$7,000,000
349900%
American State Bancshares, Inc.
$5,350
$0
$6,000,000
112050%
Patapsco Bancorp, Inc.
$1,050
$0
$6,000,000
571329%
Seaside National Bank & Trust
$400
$0
$6,000,000
1499900%
Northeast Bancorp
$1,000
$0
$4,227,000
422600%
Pacific Commerce Bank
$1,500
$0
$4,060,000
270567%
Capital Pacific Bancorp
$1,750
$0
$4,000,000
228471%
Bank of Commerce
$15,950
$0
$3,000,000
18709%
FPB Financial Corp.
$500
$0
$3,000,000
599900%
Treaty Oak Bancorp, Inc.
$250
$0
$3,000,000
1199900%
Grand Total
$37,477,300
$76,702,895
$305,212,309,000
267208%

*TARP recipient list accessed at Treasury.gov on Feb. 2, 2009. List includes only recipients that spent money on lobbying or were associated with campaign contributions. Campaign contributions include money from PACs and individuals but do not include post-election fundraising.

**Includes data for Merrill Lynch, which was acquired by Bank of America

You can also download this data here: TARP Recipients.xls


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