III. Big-Picture Disclosure

The 181 lawmakers analyzed here collectively earned an “F” by adequately disclosing the required occupation and employer data for just 58 percent of the more than $17 million that they collected in large contributions during 2004 and 2005. In fact, lawmakers left both the employer and occupation fields utterly blank for $3,108,111 worth of large contributions—a remarkable 18 percent of the total. There were 31 lawmakers who failed to report the occupation or employer of a single major donor.

A. Republicans Beat Democrats

Democrats and Republicans both earned horrendous disclosure grades. While Republican lawmakers collectively earned a remedial disclosure grade of 64 percent, at least they did not utterly flunk disclosure—as Democrats did. The collective disclosure grade of Democrats was a pitiful 48 percent.

Donor Disclosure Grades By Party

		Value of Big Donations		No. of Big Donations
Party	No. of Lawmakers	Amount	Grade	Number	Grade
DEMs	75	$6,420,930	F:  48%	5,576	F:  47%
REPs	106	$10,604,839	D:  64%	8,878	D:  62%
TOTALS:	181	$17,025,769	F: 58%	14,454	F: 56%

B. Incumbents Comparable To Rookies

Despite their experience, lawmakers who already were incumbents in 2004 earned comparable disclosure grades to the rookies who were first elected in that year. The six new members who won open seats collectively earned a disclosure grade of 59 percent, thereby nosing out the 164 incumbents who scored 58 percent. Meanwhile, the 11 challengers who unseated incumbents in 2004 earned a grade of just 55 percent.

Donor Disclosure Grades By Candidate Status

		Value of Big Donations		No. of Big Donations
Candidate Status	No. of Lawmakers	Amount	Grade	Number	Grade
Incumbent	164	$15,528,719	F:  58%	13,143	F:  56%
Challenger	11	$908,525	F:  55%	819	F:  49%
Open Seats	6	$588,525	F:  59%	492	F:  54%
TOTALS:	181	$17,025,769	F: 58%	14,454	F: 56%