Corruption Perception Index #6

By * Staff, Public Campaign. Posted May 1, 2000.

Percent of Americans who believe Elian Gonzalez’s father should be granted permanent custody of the six-year-old boy: 76.

Contributions from leaders of anti-Castro Cuban American National Foundation, their families, and the Free Cuba PAC, to Sen. Connie Mack (R-FL), lead sponsor on a bill to grant citizenship to Elian: $150,000.

How Sen. Mack voted on the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which imposed tough new penalties on illegal immigrants including speedier deportations: Yes.

Number of illegal immigrants the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service removed from country in 1999: 179,367.

Number of immigrants who would be allowed into the United States this year to work for the high-tech industries if legislation introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) succeeds: 195,000.

Contributions to Sen. Hatch from computer industry: $68,869.

Total contributions to federal campaigns and parties from computer industry, which is lobbying to employ high-tech foreign workers: $8 million.

Chance an American favors tripling current federal campaign contributions limits from $1,000 to $3,000: 1:11.

Chance a member of the House of Representatives has voted to raise federal campaign contribution limits from $1,000 to $3,000: 1:3.

Chance an American favors giving full public financing -- "Clean Money" -- to federal candidates who raise no private money and abide by spending limits: 2:3.

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