SD Senator John Thune Voting Records, Corruption, Earmarking

John Thune Voting Records and Legislative History on Issues Guiding the Future of the US

Indications of Corruption or Ethical Dysfunction

Earmarking Summary

Party: Republican Former Occupation: Government Employee Senator Since: 2005 Next Election: 2010

(Note: all corruption will not be listed. Since "corrupt" is a yes/no descriptor, further investigations become redundant after one incident is uncovered.)

John Thune Indications or Corruption in Congress or Ethics Problems:

Paybacks:

The Seattle Times uncovered a 2008 $4.64 Million earmark for Aerostar Technologies which cross references with $4000 in campaign donations from Ravin Industries (same company) CEO.

Thune's FY2010 earmark disclosures itemized taxpayer funded earmarks for General Atomics $3 Million, Northrop Grumman $2 Million and Boeing $2 Million. Those companies donated $2400, $34,500 and $10,000 respectively to Thune's re-election campaign. (Ref: opensecrets.com)

John Thune Voting Record or Legislative Record:

• Oil Drilling in US - ANWR (Alaska) A2358 11/05, Offshore VA A1566 6/07:

  Yes, Supports energy independence including drilling for US oil supplies.

• Auto Company Bailouts HR 7005 12/08:

  No, John Thune does not support taxpayer bailouts of private industry

• Bank Bailouts -TARP HR1424 10/08:

  Yes, Thune supports taxpayer bailouts for financial institutions that gamble and lose.

• Amnesty/Citizenship for Illegal Border Crossers S2611 5/06:

  No, Senator Thune supports border control and citizenship only for those following legal guidelines.

• 2009 Stimulus Bill HR1 2/09:

  No, Senator Thune opposed the $787 Billion spending plan

• 2009 Omnibus HR1105 3/09:

  No, the Senator opposed the 9000+ earmark, 8.3% government expansion bill

• Health Care HR3590 12/09:

  No, Opposed laying groundwork for federal takeover of Healthcare delivery

• Tort Reform - Medical Malpractice Reform S11 7/03:

  No federal voting record

• Balanced Budget Amendment:

  No, Thune has not any support for requiring Congress to spend within government means.

John Thune Earmarking Tendencies:

Medium:

• Earmark history supporting in-state and out-or-state entities

• $187,022,400 of taxpayer money requested by John Thune in 2009 budget specifically for entities and projects not considered worthy of financing through transparent means in the official federal budget.(Ref: Legistorm.com)

Charted Comparison of Senate Colleagues to John Thune Voting Records

Charted Comparison Corruption Investigations for Senate Colleagues of Thune