Edolphus Towns, yet another Net Neutrality Sell-Out
Meet Edolphus Towns. Mr Towns represents the 10th district, in New York State. Congressman Towns has sold out his constituents, and the Internet.
Congressman towns voted against the Markey Amendment to the COPE Act, just like Congressman Green. Just like Congressman Green, Towns was paid off by several telecommunications companies. Let’s take a look at him, step by step, year by year, shall we?
2006: In the 2006 election, Congressman Towns has received the following contributions, thus far (as of April 20th):
- Verizon Communications: $7,000
- AT&T INC: $5,000
- National Cable & Telecommunications Association: $5,000
- US Telecommunications Association: $4,000
- Time Warner (a major broadband provider): $3,000
- 2006 TOTAL: $24,000
$24,000 from telecommunications and cable providers, so far, this year… Let’s continue with the 2004 election:
In the 2004 election, Congressman Towns raised the following:
- SBC Communications: $13,000
- National Cable & Telecommunications Association: $10,000
- Verizon Communications: $6,000
- Cablevision Systems (a major broadband provider): $5,000
- 2004 TOTAL: $34,000
- RUNNING TOTAL: $58,000
In 2002, Congressman Towns received the following:
- National Cable & Telecommunications Association: $10,000
- Verizon Communications: $10,000
- BellSouth: $9,500
- SBC Communications: $6,000
- Cablevision Systems: $5,000
- 2002 TOTAL: $40,500
- RUNNING TOTAL: $98,500
In 2000, Congressman Towns received the following:
- National Cable & Telecommunications Associaton: $9,998
- Cablevision Systems: $7,400
- 2000 TOTAL: $17,398
- RUNNING TOTAL: $115,898
In the 1998, 1996, and 1994 election years, combined, Congressman Towns received:
- National Cable TV Association: $26,198
- Time Warner: $11,500
- AT&T: $5,000
- 1998/6/4 TOTAL: $42,698
- RUNNING TOTAL: $158,596
Congressman Towns CAREER totals are staggering, as well. The career data tracks contributions since 1989, but only shows the top 20 contributors. We can be certain that Congressman Towns has taken in MORE than the below:
- #2 – National Cable & Telecommunications Association (including the former National Cable TV Assn): $71,196
- #10 – Timer Warner: $38,600
- #13 – SBC Communications: $33,750
- #18 – Verizon Communications: $30,000
- CAREER TOTAL: $173,546
Congressman Towns, as I said, has most assuredly received more contributions from the telecom and cable sectors, than the above displays. Minor contributions (less than $1,500) were not shows on the election year information, and the career list only showed the top 20 contributors.
Congressman Towns, in my eyes – and I’m certain, in the eyes of many of your constituents – you have sold out the Democratic party, the people of the 10th District, and the Internet. I say shame on your actions, Congressman Towns. I am, however, a fair man, and I offer free time on this blog to state your reasoning behind voting against Internet neutrality. Submit a response, sir, and it will be posted. Feel free to use my contact form.
(data links: Towns Summary, Career Contribs)
Technorati Tags: Edolphus Towns, NY-10, 10th Congressional District, Sell-outs, network neutrality, internet neutrality
3 Comments so far
1. » NY-10: What a Primary Can Do wrote on June 13th, 2006 at 7:47 am
[...] You’ve heard me lament often enough that the NY-10 congressional race is a lose-lose situation: we have a useless incumbent and dismaying challengers. But as I’ve researched and written on the subject I’ve become convinced that Edolphus Towns isn’t just a nobody in the House: he’s somebody bad. From failures to show up for key votes (e.g. the 2006 Budget Bill, which stripped funds from Pell grants, Medicaid and Food Stamps) to mysterious reversals on key votes (CAFTA last summer), Towns consistently fails to conduct himself in a manner benefiting his constituents. And this is not something that falls in the grey area of political opinion: even if you think he has behaved in the best interests of his constituents, you can’t argue with his perplexing absences. And you can’t argue with the fact that his voting record shows a remarkable trend of favoring the interests of out-district donors over local businesses and programs. I’m sorry: when you live in one of America’s most impoverished congressional districts, failing to even show up to vote on Food Stamp funding is morally inexcusable. And not only is Towns clearly over-susceptible to donations from the energy lobby, but as Eric Scalf recently detailed at MindSpeak, Towns also seems too avid for telecom money. [...]
2. Ed Hughey wrote on January 20th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
As long as congress and the senate is run by money whores, I can’t imagine net neutrality surviving. I’m surprised it hasn’t been crushed yet.
3. Kathy wrote on March 1st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Thanks for the information. Maybe if enough people know about this they will vote him out of office.