Do political contributions affect how lawmakers vote? A new online tool allows users to draw their own conclusions by putting donations from interest groups up against a calendar of Capitol Hill legislators' votes.  The Web site Maplight.org has been helping ordinary Americans track money in politics for a couple years. But now Maplight is illuminating the timing of contributions and relevant votes. Take for example Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights Act of 2009.  So you can see, for example,  Rep. Wilson from South Carolina. He received $2,000 from the American Bankers Association on April 27th. The American Bankers Association opposed this bill. And then three days later, Rep. Wilson voted no on this bill. This feature doesn't show how a particular congressman has supported an organization, for example, a union or a bankers association, over his or her career. It just shows a very small snippet of information.  This brings up the question: Do campaign contributions alter lawmakers votes, or do donors support candidates who share their values? MapLight.Org

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