Tom Loeffler is a former four-term congressman (R-TX) best known nowadays as a major Republican fundraiser and lobbyist. A close ally of then Gov. George W. Bush, he served as a Bush Pioneer in 2000 and a Ranger in 2004. Following the 2000 election, he opened up a lobbying firm in Washington, which has had such clients as Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Citigroup Inc., Columbia/ HCA Healthcare Corp. and the city of San Antonio.[1] His most famous client, however, is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has paid the Loeffler Group "a whopping $7.9 million from December 1, 2005 though November 2006 - the largest fee collected from a foreign government by any lobbying firm in 2006," according to National Journal.[2] Much of this work was centered on gaining admission for the Kingdom to the World Trade Organization.[3] His Texas-based law firm is also a major political player: The Center for Responsive Politics ranked the firm among the state's 25 largest donors for 2004.[4]
Loeffler's clients also include the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). His work for EADS came under scrutiny recently after it was revealed that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had written letters to the Defense Department asking it to reconsider a contracting requirement seen as disadvantageous to EADS. Shortly thereafter, the Defense Department made the requested change, and EADS eventually won the $35 billion contract to manufacture the next generation of in-flight refueling tanker planes.[5] The Government Accountability Office later upheld Boeing's appeal and the project will be rebid.[6]
Loeffler served McCain's presidential campaign as national finance co-chair until he resigned on May 18, 2008, following widely-publicized reports of his lobbying for EADS/Airbus, his firm's payments to Susan Nelson while she was on the campaign staff, and his connections to Saudi Arabia.[7] As a bundler, he has raised at least $500,000 for McCain's presidential campaign, according to information released by the campaign.[8]
For a complete look at Tom Loeffler's lobbying activities, please visit the non-partisan Center For Responsive Politics' money-in-politics database.