Changes

[[Image:Bloomberg.jpg|right]]'''Michael Rubens Bloomberg''' has served as is a former 2020 Democratic candidate for President, former New York City's 108th mayor since , and founder of Bloomberg LP, a powerful financial news and information company.<ref>MikeBloomberg.com LLC, [http://www.mikebloomberg.com/index.cfm?objectid=87360FFB-C29C-7CA2-F92DC3FBE4A49054 Entrepreneur], online profile of Michael Bloomberg, accessed January 12013.</ref> The company made $8 billion in profits in 2012.<ref>Center for Public Integrity, 2002[http://www.publicintegrity. org/2012/12/21/11973/donor-profile-michael-bloomberg Donor profile: Michael Bloomberg], investigative organizational website profiling the biggest financial backers of Election 2012, December 21, 2012.</ref> His long-term partner is [[Diana L. Taylor]].<ref>City Mayors Foundation, [http://citymayors.com/usa/nyc.htmlMichael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York] , foundation website, accessed January 2013.</ref>. Bloomberg is also co-chair of the Campaign to [[Portal:Fix the Debt|Fix the Debt]] ([[#Ties to Pete Peterson's "Fix the Debt"|see more below]]).

Bloomberg, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] turned [[Republican Party|Republican]]turned Democrat, was "at one point one of the single biggest contributors anywhere to Republican candidates." <ref>Azi Paybarah, [http://www.observer.com/2007/bloomberg-not-endorsing-anyone-2008 Bloomberg: Neutral in 2008], ''The New York Observer'', May 14, 2007.</ref>

In 20042020, Bloomberg, at an estimated net worth of $560.0 4 billion, ranked at #34 8 on the ''Forbes 400'' list. of billionaires in the United States<ref name=mbf>Forbes, [httphttps://www.forbes.com/financeprofile/michael-bloomberg/lists#5daa79e51417 Michael Bloomberg], ''Forbes'', January 24, 2020, accessed January 24, 2020.</54ref> and at #9 on the list of the world's billionaires.<ref>Editor's Pick, [https:/2004/LIRwww.forbes.jhtml?passListId=54&passYear=2004&passListType=Person&uniqueId=C610com/billionaires/#100d96da251c "Billionaires: the Richest People in the World"] , ''Forbes'', January 24, 2020, accessed January 24, 2020.</ref>

==2020 Presidential Run=====Dropped Out of Race, Endorsing Joe Biden===On March 4, 2020, after the Super Tuesday contests, Bloomberg holds a variety of different politicial positions which are generally endorsed [[centristJoe Biden]]after dropping out of the race.<ref>Rebecca Morin, drawing from both [[Democratic Party (United States)|https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/03/04/election-2020-michael-bloomberg-drops-out-of-presidential-race/2595841001/ "After spending millions of his own dollars, Bloomberg ends his bid for the Democratic Partynomination"]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] positions on different key American issues. He tends to be more liberal on social issues and some economic issues, such as public well-fare and income inequality''USA Today'', March 4, 2020, accessed March 4, while being a fiscal conservative2020.</ref>

===Social issuesLeaked Comments on Race and Policing in Defense of Stop-and-Frisk===In February 2020, Bloomberg's 2015 comments at an [[Aspen Institute]] event leaked. In the leaked comments, the former mayor defended the controversial stop-and-frisk policy he had implemented as mayor in New York City.

Bloomberg claimed, "95% of your murders— murderers and murder victims— fit one M.O. You can just take the description, Xerox it, and pass it out to all the cops. They are male minorities, sixteen to twenty-five. That’s true in New York, that’s true in virtually every city".<ref name=mbni>Hunter DeRensis, [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/michael-bloombergs-2015-comments-stop-and-frisk-have-leaked-122281 "Michael Bloomberg's 2015 Comments on 'Stop-and-Frisk' Have Leaked"], ''National Interest'', February 11, 2020, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref><ref name=mbp>Quint Forgey, [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/11/michael-bloomberg-stop-and-frisk-clip-113902 "Bloomberg in hot water over ‘stop-and-frisk’ audio clip"], ''Politico'', February 11, 2020, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref> Bloomberg also noted, "You want to spend the money on a lot of cops in the streets. Put those cops where the crime is, which means in minority neighborhoods... So, one of the unintended consequences is people say, ‘Oh my god, you are arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities.’ Yes, that’s true. Why? Because we put all the cops in minority neighborhoods. Yes, that’s true. Why do we do it? Because that’s where all the crime is."<ref name=mbni/><ref name=mbp/> To contextualize Bloomberg's comments, some conservative media outlets included New York City's 2019 crime statistics when reporting on the story.  ''National Interest'' noted that, according to the NYPD's 2019 Crime and Enforcement Activity report, "62.4% of murder or non-negligent manslaughter suspects were black, while another 30.8% of suspects were Hispanic. Whites made up only 3% of murder suspects. The racial percentages are similarly distributed among those arrested for murder or non-negligent manslaughter."<ref name=mbni/>  Citing the same statistics, ''National Review'' agreed, saying "Having an accurate statistical profile of victims and perpetrators is a prerequisite for effective law enforcement. Dismissing those statistics as 'racist' is not helpful to anyone."<ref name=mbnr>Jason Richwine, [https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/bloomberg-is-correct-about-crime-in-new-york-city/ "Bloomberg Is Correct about Crime in New York City"], ''National Review'', February 11, 2020, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref> An article in ''The Atlantic'' also defended the former mayor on the numbers, saying: "Bloomberg’s justification for concentrating on black and Latino neighborhoods was sound. Those areas suffered from a disproportionate amount of crime for reasons beyond most residents’ control. As a matter of crime fighting, primly assigning just as many cops to the Upper East Side and Kips Bay would have been insane."  However, the article pointed out how, "The problem was that the policy morphed into an onslaught on millions of innocent people for no real reason. Out of 2.3 million friskings up against a wall or car, no weapon was found in 98.5 percent of them. On 99 percent of the black people stopped, no weapon was found. Contraband (such as drugs) was found on 1.8 percent of black people stopped—and on 2.3 percent of white people. Nothing justified how many brown men going about their business suffered this kind of treatment from the cops, and nothing more ringingly seals the coffin on the web of justifications than that homicides are down 43 percent in New York City since the policy was all but abandoned."<ref>John McWhorter, [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/02/bloomberg-flunks-wokeness-test-it-doesnt-matter/606634/ "Bloomberg Flunks the Wokeness Test"], ''Atlantic'', February 15, 2020, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref> An article in ''[[The Intercept]]'' contained a similar theme, asserting "While data does reflect that violent crime tends to cluster in particular neighborhoods and among young men, the Bloomberg administration’s stop-and-frisk program went well beyond targeting based solely on objective evidence. Expert testimony in federal court found that the New York Police Department carried out far more stop-and-frisks on African American and Latino residents even when controlling for precinct-level crime statistics and socioeconomic characteristics. In other words, the evidence showed that minorities were targeted for stops based on a lesser degree of suspicion than white people."<ref>Lee Fang, [https://theintercept.com/2020/02/11/bloomberg-stop-and-frisk/ "Mike Bloomberg Claims He Cut Stop-and-Frisk by 95 Percent — After Increasing It Sevenfold"], ''Intercept'', February 11, 2020, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref>===Massive Hiring of Staffers Exceeding Market Rate===In February 2020, [[Ryan Grim]] of ''[[The Intercept]]'' reported that Bloomberg's campaign was employing so many staffers that other campaigns were struggling to fill all their available positions. As Grim pointed out, compared to a more typical monthly rate of $3,000-$4,000 for a field organizer, the Bloomberg campaign's offered $6,000, which also often had "housing included, as well as a laptop and an iPhone."<ref name=mbint>Ryan Grim, [https://theintercept.com/2020/02/13/bloomberg-spending-local-state-campaigns/ "Mike Bloomberg Is Hiring So Many Operatives, Local and State Campaigns Are Starving for Help"], ''Intercept'', February 13, 2020, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref> As a result of significantly higher wages, many supporters of other candidates began working for Bloomberg while resolving to vote for a different candidate.<ref name=mbint/> In November 2019, Bloomberg announced his run for president in the Democratic primary.<ref>Steve Peoples, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/elections/ct-nw-michael-bloomberg-announces-presidential-run-20191124-nyzwdygfkvhq3dtk5wiq6dm7gu-story.html "Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg launches Democratic bid for president"], ''Chicago Tribune'', November 24, 2019, accessed January 24, 2019.</ref> After winning only American Samoa on Super Tuesday, Bloomberg ended his presidential bid the following day on March 4, endorsing Joe Biden.<ref>AP, [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/billionaire-mike-bloomberg-drops-out-of-democratic-presidential-race-endorses-joe-biden/ar-BB10JZpd "Billionaire Mike Bloomberg drops out of Democratic presidential race, endorses Joe Biden"], ''MSN'', March 4, 2020, accessed March 4, 2020.</ref> ===Democratic Debate Rules Change Seen as Effort to Favor Bloomberg===On January 31, 2020, the DNC announced a change in the qualifications required for its Feb. 19 debate in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the first eight debates had required candidates to surpass an amount of individual donors, the DNC announced the Nevada debate would only require candidates to meet a 10% polling threshold in four polls or have received at least one delegate from the Iowa or New Hampshire contests.<ref name=mbpol>Zach Montellaro, Sally Goldenberg and Christopher Cadelago, [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/31/dnc-shifts-debate-requirements-opening-door-for-bloomberg-110017 "DNC overhauls debate requirements, opening door for Bloomberg"], ''Politico'', January 31, 2020, accessed February 2, 2020.</ref><ref name=mbnyt>Reid J. Epstein and Matt Stevens, [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/us/politics/dnc-democratic-debate-rules.html "D.N.C. Rules Change for Nevada Debate Could Open Door for Bloomberg"], ''New York Times'', January 31, 2020, accessed February 2, 2020.</ref>  Many media outlets immediately noted that Bloomberg stood to gain the most from this rule change and many of his Democratic opponents and their surrogates criticized the decision.<ref name=mbpol></ref><ref name=mbnyt></ref>  In a tweet on the same day the news broke, [[Elizabeth Warren]] claimed "The DNC didn’t change the rules to ensure good, diverse candidates could remain on the debate stage. They shouldn’t change the rules to let a billionaire on. Billionaires shouldn't be allowed to play by different rules— on the debate stage, in our democracy, or in our government."<ref>Emily Larsen, [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2020-democrats-slam-party-rule-change-that-could-let-bloomberg-debate "2020 Democrats slam party rule change that could let Bloomberg debate"], ''Washington Examiner'', February 1, 2020, accessed February 2, 2020.</ref>  In an ''ABC'' interview, Andrew Yang claimed, "I think the DNC looked at this and said, 'We need to get Bloomberg on the debate stage.' This change is clearly tailor-made to deliver him to the debate stage.”<ref>Rishika Dugyala, [https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/02/democratic-debates-yang-bloomberg-110356 "Yang: DNC changed debates just for Bloomberg"], ''Politico'', February 2, 2020, accessed February 2, 2020.</ref> In response to the debate rules change, ''Vice News'' noted that Bloomberg had given a total of $300,000 to the DNC two days before he entered the presidential race in November. The piece highlighted Bloomberg's further contributions to the Democratic party, reporting: "In addition to the donations made directly to the DNC, Bloomberg also made an $800,000 donation that same day to the Democratic Grassroots Victory Fund, a joint fundraising PAC between the DNC and state Democratic parties around the country which was established in 2017. Bloomberg also donated hundreds of thousands to state parties around the country in November, according to [[FEC]] records."<ref name=mbvice>Paul Blest, [https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/z3bmjx/mike-bloomberg-gave-the-dnc-dollar300000-two-days-before-he-entered-the-race "Mike Bloomberg Gave the DNC $300K Two Days Before He Entered the 2020 Race"], ''Vice'', January 31, 2020, accessed February 2, 2020.</ref> ===Massive Ad Spending===According to Advertising Analytics, Bloomberg had spent $558 million before he ended his campaign in March, the highest amount by any campaign of all time.<ref>Rebecca Morin, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/03/04/election-2020-michael-bloomberg-drops-out-of-presidential-race/2595841001/ "After spending millions of his own dollars, Bloomberg ends his bid for the Democratic nomination"], ''USA Today'', March 4, 2020, accessed March 4, 2020.</ref> In late December 2019, Bloomberg reportedly had spent a total of nearly $135 million on TV and digital ads, an amount so high, "it’s causing ad rates to soar".<ref name=mbads>Carl Campanile, [https://nypost.com/2019/12/27/michael-bloombergs-massive-ad-spending-greatly-affecting-tv-markets/ "Michael Bloomberg’s massive ad spending greatly affecting TV markets"], ''New York Post'', December 27, 2019, accessed January 24, 2020.</ref> His campaign said he would spend "whatever it takes" to beat [[Donald Trump]] in 2020.<ref name=mbads></ref> ===Bloomberg News Criticized for Hit Piece on Bloomberg's Primary Opponents===Also in December 2019, ''Bloomberg News'', a media organization owned by Bloomberg, ran a piece attacking Sanders and Warren. The piece sought to brand these leading progressives as hypocrites, pointing out that their campaigns have each spent over $150,000 on [[Amazon]] products while simultaneously criticizing the corporation's business practices.<ref name=foxama>Joseph A. Wulfsohn, [https://www.foxnews.com/media/bloomberg-news-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-hit-piece "Bloomberg News slammed for 'hit piece' on Sanders, Warren despite vow not to investigate 2020 Democrats"], ''[[Fox News]]'', December 23, 2019, accessed January 24, 2020.</ref> A month before the piece's publication, the editor in chief of ''Bloomberg News'' had claimed, "We will continue our tradition of not investigating Mike (and his family and foundation) and we will extend the same policy to his rivals in the Democratic primaries". Publications across the political spectrum highlighted the resulting criticism of ''Bloomberg News''.<ref name=foxama></ref><ref>Jake Johnson, [https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/12/24/despite-vow-not-probe-billionaire-owners-2020-rivals-bloomberg-news-runs-ridiculous "Despite Vow Not to Probe Billionaire Owner's 2020 Rivals, Bloomberg News Runs 'Ridiculous Hit Piece' on Warren and Sanders"], ''[[Common Dreams]]'', December 24, 2019, accessed January 24, 2020.</ref> ==Polling=====National Polling Average===According to data collected by ''FiveThirtyEight'', Michael Bloomberg has risen to fourth in national polling averages, behind [[Joe Biden]], [[Bernie Sanders]], and [[Elizabeth Warren]]. In mid-January 2020, he overtook [[Pete Buttigieg]].<ref>FiveThirtyEight, [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-d/national/ Who’s ahead in the national polls?], organizational website, accessed January 24, 2020.</ref> ===Early State Polling Averages===In Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada, the three first states to vote, Bloomberg has not yet broken 3% in polling average as of February 2020.<ref>FiveThirtyEight, [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-d/iowa/ Who’s ahead in Iowa?], organizational website, accessed January 20, 2020.</ref><ref>Five Thirty Eight, [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-d/new-hampshire/ Who’s ahead in New Hampshire?], organizational website, accessed January 8, 2020.</ref><ref>Five Thirty Eight, [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-d/nevada/ Who’s ahead in Nevada?], organizational website, accessed January 6, 2020.</ref> As of this same time, he was fifth in South Carolina at 5.6% polling average.<ref>Five Thirty Eight, [https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-d/south-carolina/ Who’s ahead in South Carolina?], organizational website, accessed February 2, 2020.</ref> ==Ties to Pete Peterson's "Fix the Debt"==The [[Portal:Fix the Debt|Campaign to Fix the Debt]] is the latest incarnation of a decades-long effort by former Nixon man turned Wall Street billionaire [[Pete Peterson]] to slash earned benefit programs such as [[Social Security]] and [[Medicare]] under the guise of fixing the nation's "debt problem." Bloomberg is listed as a chairman of the campaign to [[Portal:Fix the Debt|Fix the Debt]], along with former New Hampshire Senator [[Judd Gregg]] and former Pennsylvania Governor [[Ed Rendell]].<ref>Fix the Debt, [http://www.fixthedebt.org/uploads/files/CEO%20Fiscal%20Leadership%20Council%20Membership%201-3-13(1).pdf CEO Fiscal Leadership Council], organizational document, accessed January 2013.</ref> Bloomberg pushed the "No Budget, No Pay" bill stunt backed by Fix the Debt partner organization [[Comeback America Initiative]],<ref>No Labels, [http://www.nolabels.org/accomplishments Accomplishments], organizational website, accessed January 2013.</ref> which passed the U.S. House in January 2013, but was promptly denounced as unconstitutional.<ref>Erik Wasson, [http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/278791-senate-gop-introduces-no-budget-no-pay-claim-it-is-constitutional Senate GOP Introduces No Budget, No Pay; Claims It Is Constitutional], ''The Hill'', January 23, 2013.</ref> Bloomberg has long been sympathetic to the deficit reduction crowd. In a March 2012 op-ed in the ''Wall Street Journal'', Bloomberg complained about the President asking millionaires and billionaires to do more to fix the debt calling it "class warfare," and backed the $4 trillion [[Simpson-Bowles Commission|Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan]]. He also expressed support for the expiration of Bush tax cuts for all income levels, which would have been a large hike on the poor and middle class.<ref>Michael Bloomberg, [http://www.mikebloomberg.com/index.cfm?objectid=5E5BAA28-C29C-7CA2-F1564C3C5DFBF110 Federal Budgets & Class Warfare], ''Wall Street Journal'', archived at MikeBloomberg.com, originally published March 29, 2012, accessed January 2013.</ref> In 2011, Bloomberg proposed his own $8 trillion deficit reduction plan that would entail steep cuts to Social Security and Medicare and proposed to raise the retirement age.<ref>Kate Taylor, [http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/scolding-both-sides-bloomberg-calls-for-deficit-reduction/ Mayor Presses Both Parties to Cut U.S. Deficit], ''New York Times'' City Room, November 8, 2011.</ref> This article is part of the Center for Media and Democracy's investigation of Pete Peterson's Campaign to "Fix the Debt." '''Please visit our main SourceWatch page on [[Portal:Fix the Debt|Fix the Debt]].''' {{about_FTD}} ===Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest=== From 2010 to 2012, Bloomberg LP spent $2.5 million lobbying on financial issues, a fact not disclosed in his Fix the Debt biography. Most of Bloomberg LP’s lobbyists [[Government-industry revolving door|previously held federal government jobs]].<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000031992 Bloomberg LP], ''OpenSecrets.org'' lobbying database, accessed January 2013.</ref> His long-term partner is [[Diana L. Taylor]], who is the state banking superintendent for the State of New York<ref>City Mayors Foundation, [http://citymayors.com/usa/nyc.html Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York], foundation website, accessed January 2013.</ref> as well as a board member of [[Citigroup]] with an annual compensation of $316,250 in 2011,<ref>Citigroup, [http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/831001/000119312512104047/d291341ddef14a.htm Schedule 14A Proxy Statement], corporate Securities and Exchange Commission filing, March 8, 2012.</ref> and of Brookfield Properties. Citigroup lobbies on corporate tax reform.<ref>Citigroup Management Corp., [http://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=F1FCCD57-D5B3-489C-88CB-5D7B1B2188AE Lobbying Report], corporate lobbying report filed with U.S. Congress, July 1 - September 30, 2012.</ref> Bloomberg has long been sympathetic to the deficit reduction crowd. In a March 2012 op-ed in the ''Wall Street Journal'', Bloomberg complained about the President asking millionaires and billionaires to do more to fix the debt calling it "class warfare," and backed the $4 trillion [[Simpson-Bowles Commission|Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan]]. He also expressed support for the expiration of Bush tax cuts for all income levels, which would have been a large hike on the poor and middle class.<ref>Michael Bloomberg, [http://www.mikebloomberg.com/index.cfm?objectid=5E5BAA28-C29C-7CA2-F1564C3C5DFBF110 Federal Budgets & Class Warfare], ''Wall Street Journal'', archived at MikeBloomberg.com, originally published March 29, 2012, accessed January 2013.</ref> Bloomberg pushed the "No Budget, No Pay" bill stunt backed by Fix the Debt partner organization [[Comeback America Initiative]],<ref>No Labels, [http://www.nolabels.org/accomplishments Accomplishments], organizational website, accessed January 2013.</ref> which passed the U.S. House in January 2013, but was promptly denounced as unconstitutional.<ref>Erik Wasson, [http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/278791-senate-gop-introduces-no-budget-no-pay-claim-it-is-constitutional Senate GOP Introduces No Budget, No Pay; Claims It Is Constitutional], ''The Hill'', January 23, 2013.</ref> In 2011, Bloomberg proposed his own $8 trillion deficit reduction plan that would entail steep cuts to Social Security and Medicare and proposed to raise the retirement age.<ref>Kate Taylor, [http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/scolding-both-sides-bloomberg-calls-for-deficit-reduction/ Mayor Presses Both Parties to Cut U.S. Deficit], ''New York Times'' City Room, November 8, 2011.</ref> ==Political Contributions and Lobbying=====Political Contributions to Super PACs and Congressional Republicans===Many sources have commented on Bloomberg's past funding of Republican congressional campaigns. The former mayor has donated personally to campaigns and also contributed to bipartisan Super PACs who supported candidates of Democrats and Republicans. The watchdog group [[Center for Media and Democracy]] (CMD) released an article highlighting Bloomberg's spending history, reporting "He may no longer be the Republican mayor who endorsed George W. Bush and hosted the Republican National Convention in 2004, but his financial support for the GOP continued through 2018."<ref name=mbcmd>Alex Kotch, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2020/02/14/democratic-presidential-candidate-michael-bloomberg-gop-bankroller/ "Democratic Presidential Candidate Michael Bloomberg Is a GOP Bankroller"], ''Center for Media and Democracy'', February 14, 2020, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref> The CMD's article laid out Bloomberg's various political financing ventures, including a 2018 fundraiser for New York Republican Rep. Peter King and contributions to many Super PACs, such as Independence USA, Americans for Responsible Solutions, West Main Street Values, Mississippi Conservatives, and the With Honor Fund.<ref name=mbcmd/> Between 2012-2016, the Independence USA Super PAC, funded entirely by Bloomberg, spent over $10 million on congressional campaigns. $5.9 million went to Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey, who "had led an effort, albeit unsuccessful, to expand background checks for gun purchasers, a top priority of Mr. Bloomberg’s."<ref name=mbny1>Jeremy W. Peters and Stephanie Saul, [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/26/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-republicans-donations.html "Michael Bloomberg Has Used His Fortune to Help Republicans, Too"], ''New York Times'', November 26, 2019, accessed February 16, 2020.</ref> As described by [[The New York Times]], Toomey's "race in Pennsylvania is the one that left the most bitter taste for many Democrats because they saw no path to retaking the Senate without winning that seat."<ref name=mbny1/> Bloomberg personally donated to Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins in 2007 and 2014, also donating to a bipartisan PAC which supported her in 2014. Additionally in 2014, he donated to the West Main Street Values PAC, which spent over $270,000 to help reelect South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. The billionaire also supported 2020 Democratic presidential contender [[Elizabeth Warren]]'s opponent in her 2012 Massachusetts senate race.<ref name=mbcmd/> A 2020 ''Public Citizen'' report found that Bloomberg contributed $155,180,624 towards super PACs between the years of 2010 and 2020.<ref name=mbpac>Alan Zibel, [https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/Oligarch-Overload.pdf "Oligarch Overload: How Ultra-Rich Donors Have Flooded American Politics With Cash Since Citizens United Ruling"], ''Public Citizen'', January 15, 2020, accessed February 2, 2020.</ref> This amount placed him in third place for total super PAC contributions, behind [[Sheldon Adelson]] and [[Tom Steyer]]. The report also found that Bloomberg had contributed 5.2% of all funds towards super PACs in this time period.<ref name=mbpac></ref> In 2012, Bloomberg gave heavily to two super PACs, the Mayors against Illegal Guns Action Fund, and [[Americans Elect]], a super PAC which ran ads for independent nominee for Senate Angus King.<ref>Alan Wirzbicki, [http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/10/05/michael-bloomberg-backs-push-for-independent-angus-king-maine/gwmqapv4yFsBDQFuB5sGBL/story.html Michael Bloomberg Backs Ad Push For Independent Angus King in Maine], ''Boston Globe'', October 5th, 2012.</ref> Bloomberg's contributions to Americans Elect totaled $500,000.<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, Donor Disclosure Profile for [http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/donor_detail.php?cycle=2012&id=U0000003704&type=I&super=N&name=Bloomberg%2C+Michael+R. Bloomberg, Michael], ''OpenSecrets.org'', money in politics website, accessed October 30th, 2012.</ref> From 2010 to 2012, Bloomberg LP spent $2.5 million lobbying on financial issues. Most of Bloomberg LP’s lobbyists [[Government-industry revolving door|previously held federal government jobs]].<ref>Center for Responsive Politics, [http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000031992 Bloomberg LP], ''OpenSecrets.org'' lobbying database, accessed January 2013.</ref> ==Political Positions== Prior to his 2020 presidential campaign, Bloomberg held a variety of different political positions that would generally be considered centrist, drawing from both [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] positions on different key American issues. He tends to be more liberal on social issues and some economic issues, such as public welfare and income inequality, while being a fiscal conservative. ===Social Issues=== On the major issue of [[abortion]], Bloomberg is considered [[pro-choice]]. He supports abortion rights, stating: "Reproductive choice is a fundamental human right and we can never take it for granted, on this issue, you're either with us or against us." He has criticized pro-choice politicians who support pro-life candidates. His comments may have been directed at [[New York]] [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Chuck Schumer]], a supporter of abortion rights who supported [[Bob Casey]], who is pro-life, in the [[United States Senate election, 2006|2006 Senate election]]. <ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mike_Bloomberg_Abortion.htm|title = Mike Bloomberg on Abortion|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = ontheissues.org

Bloomberg tends to be [[liberal]] about his policies towards many social issues; for instance, Bloomberg supports governmental funding for [[stem cell]] research, calling the Republican position on the issue "insanity,"<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite web|url = http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/11274669/bloomberg_08_can_a_republican_mayor_of_new_york_take_the_white_house |title = Can a Republican Mayor of New York take the White House|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = rollingstone.com }}</ref> while also supporting [[same-sex marriage]] with the rationale that “I , "I think anybody should be allowed to marry anybody." <ref> {{cite web|url = http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/politics/columns/citypolitic/11075/|title = Michael Bloomberg's Gay Marriage Solution|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = nymag.com}}</ref>

However, he continues to support the strict drug laws that have been established in New York City and enforced by the [[New York Police Department]] (NYPD), despite having admitted to smoking [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] in the past and "[enjoying] it."<ref> {{cite web|url = http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mike_Bloomberg_Drugs.htm|title = Mike Bloomberg on Drugs|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = ontheissues.org}}</ref>

===Domestic issuesIssues===

On crime, the decline in New York criminal activity that occurred throughout Rudy Giuliani's tenure has continued. Bloomberg , however , is against the [[death penalty]], stating, "I'd rather lock somebody up and throw away the key and put them in hard labor, the ultimate penalty that the law will allow, but I'm opposed to the death penalty." <ref name="crime"> {{cite web|url = http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mike_Bloomberg_Crime.htm|title = Mike Bloomberg on Crime|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = ontheissues.org}}</ref>

In addition to his anti-crime work, Bloomberg is an avid supporter of [[gun control]] , stating, "I don't know why people carry guns. Guns kill people." As mayor , he increased the mandatory minimum sentence for illegal possession of a loaded handgun. In regard to the change, Bloomberg commented, "Illegal guns don't belong on our streets and we're sending that message loud and clear, we're determined to see that gun dealers who break the law are held accountable, and that criminals who carry illegal loaded guns serve serious time behind bars." <ref name="crime"> {{cite web

}}</ref> Bloomberg formed Mayors Against Illegal Guns in May 2007, an organization made up of 210 mayors who are supportive of support gun control. <ref> {{cite web

Bloomberg has also shown involvement in education reform as mayor, replacing the school board set up by the state with direct mayoral control over [[public education]]. He raised the salaries of teachers by 15% percent while the test scores of students in the city and the graduation rate rose as well. Bloomberg is opposed to the promotion of students to the next grade level for strictly social reasons citing , stating that students should only be promoted when they are adequately prepared for the next grade level. He favors after-school programs to help students that are behind. As mayor, Bloomberg strengthened the [[cell-phone]] ban in schools.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Mike_Bloomberg_Education.htm|title = Mike Bloomberg on Education|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = ontheissues.org}}</ref>

In dealing with the [[global warming]] debate and New York's role in it, he has enacted a plan called "PlaNYC: A Greener, Greater New York" to fight global warming, protect the [[environmental policy|environment]] , and prepare New York for the projected 1 one million more people expected to be living in the city by the year 2030.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.mikebloomberg.com/en/issues/environment_sustainability|title = Environment Sustainability|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = mikebloomberg.com}}</ref> Bloomberg has also been involved in motivating other cities to make changes, delivering the keynote address at the [[C40 Large Cities Climate Summit]] and stating, "[W]e now know beyond a doubt that global warming is a reality. And the question we must all answer is, “What 'What are we going to do about it?'" Bloomberg also talked about how he would go about fighting climate change by reducing [[carbon dioxide emissions]], using cleaner and more efficient [[fuels]], and encouraging [[public transportation]]. <ref> {{cite web|url = http://www.mikebloomberg.com/en/issues/environment_sustainability/mayor_michael_bloomberg_delivers_keynote_address_at_the_c40_large_cities_climate_summit|title = Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivers keynote address at the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = mikebloomberg.com}}</ref>

On issues of domestic and [[homeland security]], Bloomberg has attacked [[social conservative]]s on [[Illegal immigration in the United States|immigration]] , calling their stance unrealistic, : "We're not going to deport 12 million people, so let's stop this fiction. Let's give them permanent status." <ref name="NYTimmigration"> {{cite web

}}</ref> He supports a worker [[Identification|ID database]] that uses [[DNA]] and [[fingerprint]] technology to keep record track of all workers to verify their status. <ref>{{cite web

}}</ref> Bloomberg believes that law-abiding immigrants should be given citizenship and supports the congressional efforts of [[John McCain]] and [[Ted Kennedy]] in [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007|immigration reform]]. Regarding border security, Bloomberg compared it to the tide, stating, "It’s as if we expect border control agents to do what a century of communism could not: defeat the natural market forces of supply and demand... and defeat the natural human desire for freedom and opportunity. You might as well as sit in your beach chair and tell the tide not to come in. As long as America remains a nation dedicated to the proposition that "'all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," ' people from near and far will continue to seek entry into our country.:"<ref> {{cite web

Bloomberg believes that the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] were not intended to be solitary events. When he assumed office, he set up a Counterterrorism Bureau which that works along with the NYPD intelligence division to gather information about terrorism affecting New York worldwide. He feels that funding for [[Homeland Security]] by the federal government should be distributed by risk, where cities that are considered to have the highest threat for a terrorist attack would get the most money. <ref> {{cite web

}} </ref> Bloomberg is also a supporter of the [[USA PATRIOT Act]]. <ref> {{cite web

===Economic issuesIssues===

Economically, Bloomberg tends to be [[fiscal conservative|conservative]], expressing a distaste of for taxes. He has stated, "Taxes are not good things, but if you want services, somebody's got to pay for them, so they're a necessary evil." <ref> {{cite web

}} </ref> As mayor, he did raise property taxes to fund budget projects; however. However, in January 2007 , he proposed cuts in property taxes by 5% five percent and cuts in sales taxes , including the elimination of taxes on clothing and footwear. Bloomberg pointed to the [[Wall Street]] profits and the [[real estate]] market as evidence that the city's economy is was booming and could handle a tax break. These policies reflect the perception of Bloomberg as a fiscal conservative.<ref>{{cite web

}} </ref>

His Bloomberg's fiscal conservativism also led him to eliminate the previous $6 billion deficit when he assumed office. He balanced the budget of New York City by raising [[property taxes]] and making cuts to city agencies, excluding the police and fire departments. <ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Bloomberg_Budget_+_Economy.htm|title = Mike Bloomberg on the Budget and Economy|accessdate = 2007-08-02|publisher = ontheissues.org}}</ref>

As a businessman, Bloomberg is respected by the [[business]] community and governs with a pro-business platform. He is in favor of providing tax breaks to big corporations for the good of the whole community. As mayor, Bloomberg lobbied to the [[CEO]] of [[Goldman Sachs]] to establish their its headquarters across from [[Ground zero]] Zero by promising $1.65 billion in tax breaks. Regarding this deal, Bloomberg stated, "This [New York City] is where the best want to live and work. So I told him [CEO of Goldman Sachs], 'We can help with minimizing taxes. Minimizing your rent. Improving security. But in the end, this is about people.'" <ref> {{cite web

}} </ref>

He has had a less cordial relationship with unions as mayor. In [[2002]], when New York City's transit workers threatened to [[Strike action|strike]], Bloomberg responded by riding a mountain bike through the city to show how the city could deal with the transit strike by finding alternate means of transportation and not pandering to the unions.<ref> {{cite web

}} </ref>

Bloomberg is a staunch advocate of [[free trade]] and is strongly opposed to [[protectionism]], stating, "The things that we have to worry about is this protectionist movement that has reared its head again in this country...." He worries about the growth of [[China]] and fears the lessening tightening gap between the [[United States]] and other countries: "The rest of the world is catching up, and, there are people that say, surpassing us. I hope they are wrong. I hope those who think we are still in good shape are right. But nevertheless, the time to address these issues is right now." <ref>{{cite web

}} </ref>

More liberally, Bloomberg puts a strong emphasis on [[public health]] and [[welfare]], adopting many [[economic liberalism|economically liberal]] policies. As the mayor , he made [[HIV]], [[diabetes]], and [[hypertension]] all top priorities. He extended the city's smoking ban to all commercial establishments and implemented a [[trans fat]] ban in restaurants. <ref> {{cite web

}} </ref> He also launched a program called [[Opportunity NYC]] , which is the nation's first-ever conditional cash transfer pilot program , designed to help New Yorkers break the cycle of poverty in the city. He instituted a $7.5 billion municipal affordable housing plan, the largest in the nation, that is supposed to provide 500,000 New Yorkers with housing. <ref> {{cite web

Bloomberg is concerned about poverty and growing class divisions , stating, "This society cannot go forward, the way we have been going forward, where the gap between the rich and the poor keeps growing." <ref> {{cite web

===Foreign policyPolicy===Initially, Bloomberg strongly supported the war in Iraq and the rationale for going in. He stated, "Don't forget that the war started not very many blocks from here" alluding to Ground Zero. In regard to the global [[War on Terrorism]] including Iraq he said, "It's not only to protect Americans. It's America's responsibility to protect people around the world who want to be free." His enthusiasm seems to have lessened somewhat over the course of the war. In August of 2005 he said, "I think everybody has very mixed emotions about the war that was started to find weapons of mass destruction and then they were not found."

[http://www.uniteformike.com The Draft Bloomberg 2008 committee], which is based out of New York City, Boston, and Washington DC, promotes a Mike Bloomberg candidacy, regardless of election vehicle or political party he chooses to run under. This is the [http://www.uniteformike.com unaffiliated Draft most heavily trafficked site promoting Mike Bloomberg for President] (according to alexa). So far the grouphas received significant publicity due to its close ties to [[Kevin Sheekey] launched their ], New York City 's Deputy Mayor, in social networking sites like the [http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6228178865 Draft Mike Bloomberg Facebook group].<ref>[http://www.observer.com/2007/sheekey-joins-line-draft-bloomberg-groups NY observer]</ref>  This [http://www.uniteformike.com unaffiliated Draft Bloomberg 2008 campaign (group] launched its [http://www.bloomberg08nyc.com bloomberg08nyc.comNew York City Draft Bloomberg 2008 campaign]) lead by [http://www.uniteformike.com/about Karin Gallet, Andrew MacRae and Michael White].<ref>[http://spindlezine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=29&limit=1&limitstart=0 Karin Gallet: Drafting Bloomberg]</ref><ref>[http://www.observer.com/2007/meet-mike-bloombergs-best-line-friend-0 Pro-Bloomberg Blogger, Eagle Scout]</ref>. In December 2007, the Draft Bloomberg 2008 campaign site relaunched as [http://www.UniteForMike.com www.UniteForMike.com] , providing a blog and collecting signatures for the Draft Bloomberg 2008 movement.<ref>[http://www.uniteformike.com Official portal of the Draft Bloomberg 08 committee, UniteForMike.com</ref> The [http://www.uniteformike.com site] includes included blogs, [http://www.uniteformike.com/forums forums], videos , news , and commentary as well as up to date information on the activities of the Draft Bloomberg for President movement. ==Affiliations== *Ex Officio Trustee, [[Museum of Jewish Heritage]] <ref>[http://www.mjhnyc.org/museum_aboutus_c.htm Leadership], Museum of Jewish Heritage, accessed May 25, 2009.</ref>*Ex Officio Trustee, [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] <ref>[http://www.metmuseum.org/about/pdf/annual_report/02Board_of_Trustees09.pdf Directors], Metropolitan Museum of Art, accessed June 16, 2010.</ref>*Ex Officio Trustee, [[American Museum of Natural History]] <ref>[http://www.amnh.org/about/trustees.php Trustees], American Museum of Natural History, accessed April 19, 2010.</ref>*Ex Officio Director, [[Lincoln Center]] <ref>[http://www.lincolncenter.org/load_screen.asp?screen=aboutus_board Directors], Lincoln Center, accessed October 2, 2009.</ref>*Ex Officio Trustee, [[Carnegie Hall]] <ref>[http://www.carnegiehall.org/article/about_us/art_board_of_trustees.html Trustees], Carnegie Hall, accessed November 4, 2009.</ref>*Founder, [[Bloomberg Philanthropies ]]

==Related SourceWatch Articles and Resources==*[[gun control]]*[[U.S. presidential election, 2008]]

===Featured SourceWatch Articles on Fix the Debt=== * [[Portal:Fix the Debt|Fix the Debt Portal Page]]** [[Fix the Debt's Leadership]]** [[Fix the Debt's Partner Groups]]** [[Fix the Debt's State Chapters]]** [[Fix the Debt's Lobbyists]]** [[Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget|Fix the Debt's Parent Group]]** [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Category:Fix_the_Debt_Corporations Fix the Debt's Corporations]** [[Pete Peterson]]** [[Peter G. Peterson Foundation]]** [[America Speaks]]** [[Simpson-Bowles Commission]]** [[Erskine Bowles]]** [[Alan Simpson]]** [[Social Security]]** [[Medicare]]** [[Medicaid]] ===Other Related SourceWatch Articles=== * [[Citigroup]]* [[Bloomberg Philanthropies $50 million grant to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign]]* [[gun control]]* [[U.S. presidential election, 2008]] ===External LinksResources=======Profiles====

====Articles by Michael Bloomberg====

===External Articles & and Commentary=======2005====*Michael C. Dorf, [http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dorf/20050214.html "New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Response to a Same-Sex Marriage Ruling: Should Executive Officials Defend Laws They Consider Unconstitutional?"] ''FindLaw's Writ'', February 14, 2005.*Laura Trevelyan, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4110648.stm "Bloomberg braces for mayoral joust,"] BBC News, June 20, 2005.*Mark Berkey-Gerard, [http://www.gothamgazette.com/article//20051109/17/1648 "What Now, Mayor Bloomberg?"] ''Gotham Gazette'', November 2005.

====20062007====*Chris Smith, [http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/features/14573/ "The Mayor and His Money. Michael Bloomberg may be the first politician to use his vast fortune not just to get elected but to actually govern. In a city ever more defined by the gap between rich and poor, that’s pretty weird,"] ''New York Magazine'', 2006.*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49550 "Bloomberg: Illegals needed to take care of golf courses. New York mayor: Fairways would suffer if undocumented immigrants sent home,"] ''WorldNetDaily'', April 2, 2006.*Sarah Kugler, [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8HQE6B80&show_article=1 "NYC Mayor Advocates U.S. Worker Database,"] Associated Press (BreitBart.com), May 24, 2006.*Ben Smith, [http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060710&s=smith071006 "Bloomberg for President. Third Way Out,"] ''The New Republic'' Online, June 29, 2006 (July 10, 2006 issue).*Ben Wallace-Wells, [http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/11274669/bloomberg_08_can_a_republican_mayor_of_new_york_take_the_white_house "Bloomberg '08? The Republican mayor of New York has become the party's fiercest internal critic. But can his 'billionaire populism' bridge the nation's blue-red divide?"] ''Rolling Stone'', August 22, 2006.*Clara Jeffery, [http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2006/12/3083_nyc_sues_more_o.html "NYC Sues (More) Out-Of-State Gun Dealers. Does This Mean Bloomberg's Running for Prez?"] ''MoJo'' Blog/''MotherJones'', December 7, 2006.*Justin Rocket Silverman, [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nycam145014929dec14,0,4684168.story "Thousands more surveillance cameras,"] ''Newsday'', December 14, 2006.

====2006==== *Chris Smith, [http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/features/14573/ "The Mayor and His Money. Michael Bloomberg may be the first politician to use his vast fortune not just to get elected but to actually govern. In a city ever more defined by the gap between rich and poor, that’s pretty weird,"] ''New York Magazine'', 2006.*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49550 "Bloomberg: Illegals needed to take care of golf courses. New York mayor: Fairways would suffer if undocumented immigrants sent home,"] ''WorldNetDaily'', April 2, 2006.*Sarah Kugler, [http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8HQE6B80&show_article=1 "NYC Mayor Advocates U.S. Worker Database,"] Associated Press (BreitBart.com), May 24, 2006.*Ben Smith, [http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060710&s=smith071006 "Bloomberg for President. Third Way Out,"] ''The New Republic'' Online, June 29, 2006 (July 10, 2006 issue).*Ben Wallace-Wells, [http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/11274669/bloomberg_08_can_a_republican_mayor_of_new_york_take_the_white_house "Bloomberg '08? The Republican mayor of New York has become the party's fiercest internal critic. But can his 'billionaire populism' bridge the nation's blue-red divide?"] ''Rolling Stone'', August 22, 2006.*Clara Jeffery, [http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2006/12/3083_nyc_sues_more_o.html "NYC Sues (More) Out-Of-State Gun Dealers. Does This Mean Bloomberg's Running for Prez?"] ''MoJo'' Blog/''MotherJones'', December 7, 2006.*Justin Rocket Silverman, [http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nycam145014929dec14,0,4684168.story "Thousands more surveillance cameras,"] ''Newsday'', December 14, 2006. ====2005==== *Michael C. Dorf, [http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dorf/20050214.html "New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Response to a Same-Sex Marriage Ruling: Should Executive Officials Defend Laws They Consider Unconstitutional?"] ''FindLaw's Writ'', February 14, 2005.*Laura Trevelyan, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4110648.stm "Bloomberg braces for mayoral joust,"] BBC News, June 20, 2005.*Mark Berkey-Gerard, [http://www.gothamgazette.com/article//20051109/17/1648 "What Now, Mayor Bloomberg?"] ''Gotham Gazette'', November 2005. ===References==={{reflist|2}} [[Category:Politics (U.S.)]][[Category:Elections (U.S.)]][[Category:Civil liberties (U.S.)]][[Category:Real Economy Project]][[Category:United States]][[Category:Fix the Debt]]