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Politicians like Tom DeLay have used big banks and credit card companies as their private campaign contribution ATMs. Now many of our elected officials are using policy paybacks to make good on the debt they've racked up with these cash advances. And they're sticking low- and moderate-income people with the bill.

Soon the U.S. House will debate bankruptcy "reform" legislation that will make it harder for low- and moderate-income individuals to get out of debt even when blindsided by sickness, divorce, or job loss. These are the very times when people are most vulnerable to credit card companies' pitches to rack up debt.

With this bill, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and the banking, finance and credit card industries' friends in Congress are rewarding their donors.

According to a recent analysis we've conducted, the big banks and credit card companies have contributed nearly $43 million since 1989 to current members of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1989. Of that, about one-third went to Democrats and nearly two-thirds went to Republicans. Tom DeLay ranks near the top of that list; when contributions to his leadership PAC are added, he has received more than $620,000 from the industry.

So far, 8,245 people have participated in this campaign.