Bullish On The Dems? Report Says Dems Got More Money From Wall Street In 2005 Than The GOP

Is it a blip or a trend? Bloomberg News reported today that the Democrats beat the GOP in fund raising on Wall Street last year. According to the report, the Dems got 52% of the financial industry's political donations last year. In 2003 and 2004, it was the GOP who got that same 52%. Is there some hedging going on on the Street?


DEMS KEEPING UP WITH GOP IN CONGRESSIONAL FUNDRAISING

The Washington Post reported recently both the Democratic Congressional and Senate campaign committees are keeping pace, or surpassing, their Republican counterparts.

According to the Post, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee raised $6.9 million in March, bringing its total for the 2005-2006 election cycle to $56.4 million, with $32.1 million in the bank. The National Republican Senatorial Committee reported raising $5 million in March, bringing its total to $50.4 million for the cycle,with $16.5 million in the bank.

Meanwhile the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported having $23 million in the bank after raising about $9 million in the first quarter of the year. The Republican Congressional Campaign Committee reports having $24.4 million in the bank after also raising $9 million in the first three months of this year.

CLINTON PROPOSES TYING CONGRESSIONAL RAISES TO MINIMUM WAGE BOOSTS

Sen Hillary Clinton said over the weekend she would introduce legislation linking Congressional pay raises, percent-by-percent, to boosts in the minimum wage. Clinton argues the proposal would assure periodic gains in the minimum wage. The national minimum wage of $5.15/hour was last raised in 1997.

Just to balance out her walk to the political center. The Senator said a few other things this weekend that didn't sit as well with the progressive wing of her party. Clinton says she supports walling out illegal immigrants. She told the Daily News "a wall in certain areas would be appropriate." Clinton also called for phased-in legalization of illegal immigrants who are already here. As the paper reports today, the stance is not sitting well with immigrant advocates.