By: The Hill
July 16, 2021
Executives at the nation’s largest tech companies made huge donations to key lawmakers in recent months as Congress debated legislation that would reshape the industry.
The influx of donations came in as the tech industry urged lawmakers to abandon antitrust legislation that could make it easier for regulators to break up tech giants. Tech companies also lobbied Senate leaders to prioritize a bill to provide $52 billion toward U.S. semiconductor manufacturing.
Tech executives cut the largest checks to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), according to recent Federal Election Commission filings covering fundraising from April through June.
More than two dozen Microsoft executives donated to Schumer’s campaign in June, collectively giving more than $116,000. Thirteen executives gave $5,800, the maximum allowed by law, including Microsoft President Brad Smith and Fred Humphries, who leads the company’s Washington lobbying team.