Fannie, Freddie Donate Big to Utah Senator

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government sponsored mortgage giants who Congress just bailed out, has donated $107,999 to Senator Bob Bennet from Utah since 1989. Only three members of Congress, all Senate Democrats, received more: Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd ($165,400), Senator Barack Obama ($126,349) and former presidential candidate Senator John Kerry ($111,000). The Center for Responsive Politics shows that Freddie and Fannie have given a combined $29.7 million in contributions to national candidates since the 1990 election cycle and spent nearly $200 million on lobbying and campaigning combined. Could their massive lobbying efforts help explain why Congress passed the bailout plan against the wishes of the vast majority of Americans?