Obama Meets the $66 Million Gang « The Washington Independent

The 15 banking CEOs who met with President Obama today in Washington head financial institutions that spent at least $45 million on lobbying in 2008, and gave $21.2 million in political contributions in 2007-2008, according to OpenSecrets.org, the Center for Responsive Politics’ Website that tracks money in politics.

Before the meeting, Obama said he would use the meeting “to reiterate his message that each of us must look beyond our own short-term interests to the wider set of obligations we have to each other in order for America to succeed.”

Following the meeting, John Stumpf of Wells Fargo said, “The basic message is we’re all in this together. We’re trying to do the right thing for America.”

Well, its never too late to start.

Here’s a list of the CEOs who met with Obama, followed by their respective institutions’ lobbying expenditures in 2008 and total campaign contributions from political action committees and employees in 2007-2008:

1) Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase

Lobbying: $5.39 million

Contributions: $802,516

2) Ken Chenault, American Express

Lobbying: $5.78 million

Contributions: $573,167

4) Ronald Logue, State Street

Lobbying: $750,000 and $980,000

Contributions: $24,500

5) Robert Kelly, Bank of New York-Mellon

Lobbying: $95,960 and $190,000 (BNY-Mellon and Mellon Bank)

Contributions: $628,775