Body Scanner Company Made Political Contributions

Michael Beckel of the Center for Responsive Politics in November 2010 reported on how one of the body scanning companies, L-3 Communications, used for airport security screenings made political gifts.

• L-3 Communications contributed $466,300 to candidates and committees.
• Some of the recipients of the political gifts are:
  • “Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has collected $9,000 from the L-3 Communications PAC this cycle, and Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), the chairman of the House’s Defense Appropriations subcommittee, received $8,500 — including $2,000 in September.”
  • “Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), is the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. Thompson has received $8,000 from the L-3 Communications PAC — including $1,500 in October.”

To read the entire article, click on Body Scanner Producing L-3 Communications Increases Political Gifts, Targets Power Brokers.

Kevin Bogardus in The Hill in November 2010 also reported on political contributions by the body scanner companies.

• L-3 Communications is a defense contractor and received a contract for $165 million from the TSA.
• “Linda Hall Daschle, a former administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration and wife of ex-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), is one of L-3’s best-connected lobbyists.”
• Since 2004, L-3 Communications has spent $1.4 million on lobbying.
• The other company with a TSA contract for body scanners is Rapiscan Systems.  “In 2009, the company was awarded an agreement that could be worth up to $173 million.”
• Since 2007, Rapiscan Systems has spent approximately $3.6 million on lobbying.

To read the entire article, click on Airport body-scanner manufacturers armed for K Street battle.