Which PACs Fund the Political Parties

NewsMax ^ | 1/26/04 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Which political action committees give more to Republicans?

Leadership Institute recently released its 2001-2002 PAC study, which covers the 2003 election cycle, and it shines the light on who gives what to whom.

Here are just some of those PACs that gave 100 percent of their contributions to Republicans:

Ruby Tuesday Good Government Fund
Waffle House Inc.
Weyerhaeuser company specialty shareholders
AK Steel (Armco Inc.) of Arkansas
Colonial BankGroup Inc. fed Pac
Cooper Industries of Houston ($186,500)
First National of Nebraska
Independent Electrical Contractors

PACs that forked over 99 percent of their funds to Republicans include:

American Bakers Assoc.
Assoc. Builders and Contractors

Notable PACs that donated significantly greater percentages to Republicans over Democrats include:

Cracker Barrel 93% - 7%
Delta Airlines 73% - 27%
Eastman Kodak 74% - 26%
Ford Motor Co. Civic Action Fund – 78% - 22%
General Mills 71% - 27%
McDonald’s 86% - 14%
Microsoft 58% - 42%
3M 71% - 29%
Nasdaq 58% - 42%
National Assoc. of Broadcasters 60% - 40%
National Restaurant Assoc. 83% - 17%
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 78% - 22%

The PAC for News America, U.S. subsidiary of the media giant headed by Rupert Murdoch and the parent company of Fox News, gave 58 percent of its money to Democrats, including Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., who received $4,000.

Not to be outdone, CNN’s parent company Time Warner tilted even more heavily Democrat, giving 71 percent to Democrats and only 29 percent to Republicans. The AOL subsidiary of Time Warner was more balanced, giving 53 percent to Republicans, 47 percent to Democrats.

The 800-pound guerrilla of PACs, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, had a war chest of $2,768,00. Of that, 86 percent went to Democrats and a paltry 13 percent to Republicans. No wonder the Democrats oppose tort reform so vociferously.

The Democrats still appear to be the party of special interests. International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers PAC gave 100 percent to Democrats, and National Association of Securities and Commercial Law Attorneys PAC gave 99 percent to Democrats, with Rep. John Howard Coble, R-N.C., receiving $1,000.

Notable PACS that gave heavier percentages to Democrats include:

American Pharmaceutical Association 72% – 28%
Clorox company Employees 77% – 23%
John Hancock Financial Services Inc. 71% - 27%
Maintenance of Way Political League 93% – 7%
MGM Mirage 72% – 28%
NAPUS PAC for Postmasters 72% – 28%
National Association of Postal Supervisors 78% – 22%
Nat’l Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees 82% – 18%
Nat’l Assoc. of Social Workers Inc. 91% – 9%
National Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs 95% – 5%

Although there were exceptions, generally lumber and paper companies, air travel, health care companies, oil and gas, coal, insurance, lodging (Marriott, Holiday Inns) and the financial services industries gave more heavily to Republicans. The gambling, nursing, federal employees, lawyers groups and pharmaceutical industries gave more heavily to Democrats.