Companies Fund Lawmakers’ Charities

New rules, passed in 2007, were supposed to limit the amount of influence corporations could have on Congress, but, according to a New York Times investigation, companies have found another way to make their presence felt: giving money to lawmakers' charities. Companies like AT&T and Chevron give generously, sometimes up to $5 million, to foundations created by congressmen or their families. Last fall, Altria, a cigarette maker, sent thousands of dollars to charities of House members, while legislation concerning the sale of cigarettes over the Internet was being considered. “We are not apologetic about it at all: It is part of our overall effort to work with policymakers,” a spokesman for Duke Energy, which gives money to these charities, said. “Social settings are always a good way to get to know people.”