Pressure groups impact on presidency
Economy – effective
Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
o $2.3bn over 10 years
o Corporate tax 39% max to 21% flat rate
1999-2000, Enron (energy) donated $1.30m to GW Bush
o Jobs + Growth Tax Reconciliation Act – decreased max corporate dividend tax to
15%
CARES Act from Trump costing $2.2tr
o $300bn one time cash payments
o $260bn increase in unemployment benefits
Healthcare – non effective
Big Pharma donated $2 trillion in lobbying
But PPACA passed
o 20-24 million Americans
o Mandated insurers to cover pre-existing conditions
American Healthcare Act failed
Pharma companies donated $1.1m for Bush’s inauguration
o Increased private plan enrolment from 4.7m 2003 to 10m 2008
Trump undermined PPACA
o Enrolment period cut 12 to 6 weeks
o Advertising budget cut 90%
Social issues - effective
Since 1998, lobbying NRA spent $65m
o Trump removed restrictions on 75,000 mentally ill owning guns
Bush nominated Alito + Roberts, cases of DC v Heller, McDonald v Chicago
Bush never renewed Federal Assault Weapons Ban
NARAL donated $50,000 to Biden
o Dobbs v Jackon Women’s Health Organisation
Groups like Ford Foundation + Carnegie Corporation of New York have invested $300m in
immigration organisations, yet Obama couldn’t pass DREAM Act
Economy – effective
Tax Cuts & Jobs Act
o $2.3bn over 10 years
o Corporate tax 39% max to 21% flat rate
1999-2000, Enron (energy) donated $1.30m to GW Bush
o Jobs + Growth Tax Reconciliation Act – decreased max corporate dividend tax to
15%
CARES Act from Trump costing $2.2tr
o $300bn one time cash payments
o $260bn increase in unemployment benefits
Healthcare – non effective
Big Pharma donated $2 trillion in lobbying
But PPACA passed
o 20-24 million Americans
o Mandated insurers to cover pre-existing conditions
American Healthcare Act failed
Pharma companies donated $1.1m for Bush’s inauguration
o Increased private plan enrolment from 4.7m 2003 to 10m 2008
Trump undermined PPACA
o Enrolment period cut 12 to 6 weeks
o Advertising budget cut 90%
Social issues - effective
Since 1998, lobbying NRA spent $65m
o Trump removed restrictions on 75,000 mentally ill owning guns
Bush nominated Alito + Roberts, cases of DC v Heller, McDonald v Chicago
Bush never renewed Federal Assault Weapons Ban
NARAL donated $50,000 to Biden
o Dobbs v Jackon Women’s Health Organisation
Groups like Ford Foundation + Carnegie Corporation of New York have invested $300m in
immigration organisations, yet Obama couldn’t pass DREAM Act
