>what were MC's corporate contributions to the parties last year?
Dunno about last year, but search for MasterCard at <http://www.opensecrets.org/> and here's some of what you get (I'd list more, but the site seems to have had a stroke):
MasterCard International and Visa U.S.A. Inc. each gave the National Republican Senatorial Committee $25,000 on October 31, 1997. The two credit card companies are lobbying for congressional proposals that would make it harder for consumers who declare personal bankruptcy to have their debts forgiven.
1998 DATA* (1997 DATA ALSO AVAILABLE) MasterCard International Inc Total Lobbying Expenditures: $1,760,000
1997 CALENDAR YEAR* (1998 DATA ALSO AVAILABLE) MasterCard International Inc Total Lobbying Expenditures: $960,000
National Consumer Bankruptcy Coalition member PACs (American Financial Services Association, American Bankers Association, Credit Union National Association, Independent Bankers Association, America's Community Bankers, National Retail Federation, and Consumer Bankers Association. Visa and MasterCard are members but do not have PACs) have distributed $2.1 million to federal candidates so far in the 1997-98 election cycle.
Between 1993-1998, senators have received $1.9 million from National Consumer Bankruptcy Coalition member PACs and individuals who work for coalition members. Between 1997-1998, representatives have received $1.5 million from National Consumer Bankruptcy Coalition member PACs and individuals who work for coalition members.