The Big Social Security Checks

The Center for Responsive Politics follows the money leading to the Social Security reform debate.

On the President's side, that includes the Alliance for Worker Retirement Security -- with connections to Pfizer, Hewlett-Packard, and the US Chamber of Commerce -- and more than $34.6 million in contributions to federal candidates since 1999. And support from the security and investments sector which contributed $8.1 million to the Bush campaign in 2004.

In the other corner -- the non-partisan AARP is joining forces with highly partisan labor unions -- whose PACs gave $52.7 million almost exclusively to Democrats last year and their 527 groups which spent $101 million.