Lawmakers Who Championed Repeal of Web Browsing Privacy Protections Raked in Telecom Campaign Cash

The two lawmakers most responsible for rolling back landmark internet browsing privacy protections were richly rewarded by telecommunication giants. Verizon, AT&T, Cox Enterprises, the US Telecom Association, and CTIA, the trade association for the major cell phone carriers, appeared to single out the original sponsors of the repeal resolution — Sen Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and House Communications Subcommittee Chair Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) — for particularly generous campaign contributions.

A Verizon political action committee filing shows that most lawmakers received between $500 and $1,000 from the firm during the first three months of this year. But Sen Flake received $8,000 and Chairman Blackburn received $4,500. Chairman Blackburn received $5,000 from the CTIA, the most of any House member. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) only received $2,500 from the group during the same time period.