It must feel really good, part 2

Never underestimate the power of a few database administrators to change the world...

MAPlight.org ('MAP' being an acronym for 'money and politics') makes it much easier to determine where there's a link between campaign donations and legislative action. From their site:

MAPLight.org combines three data sets:

• Bill texts and legislative voting records
• Supporting and opposing interests for each bill
• Campaign contribution data from the Center for Responsive Politics and the National Institute on Money in State Politics

Combining this data makes visible key information that could never before be determined easily. For example:

• Contributions given by interests supporting and opposing each bill
• Average donations given to legislators voting “Yes” and “No” on each bill
• Timeline of contributions and votes for each bill, graphically identifying when legislators received large donations before or after their vote.

In the fall, Senator Clinton said, "The idea that somehow a contribution is going to influence you, I just ask you to look at my record." Well, now you can.

Here's a link to MAPlight's video tour (about 6 minutes).