Why Do Industries Fund Campaigns Despite Roll-Call Vote Gains?

This study investigates why corporations donate to legislative campaigns despite seemingly gaining nothing from roll-call votes.

Key Argument:

Corporate donors strategically shape policy by influencing agenda-setters early in lawmaking, particularly committee and party leaders.

Data & Methods:

New dataset: 45,000+ individual state legislator sessions (1988-2012).

Using a difference-in-differences design to measure the value of access through campaign contributions.

Findings:

• Industries systematically target specific agenda-setters who regulate them and possess procedural power.
• The perceived value of agenda-setter positions has significantly increased in recent years.
• Changes in state contribution limits disproportionately benefit committee chairs and party leaders, suggesting they strategically obstruct such reforms.

This research underscores the strategic role of access politics in policy outcomes.