[Diogenesis]

"(N)early $30,000 from the drugmaker
since 2000" given to Perry
and "more than $355,000...
to the Republican Governors Association since 2006
which was the year that Perry began to play a prominent role."

[RobertClark]

"(N)early $30,000 from the drugmaker since 2000" given to Perry and "more than $355,000... to the Republican Governors Association since 2006 which was the year that Perry began to play a prominent role."

The Republican association raised $31 Million for political activity in just three months of 2010 (July to September).

The contributors included an additional $250,000 from Rupert Murdoch’s News America Inc., bringing its total contribution for the year to $1.25 million; $3.5 million from Bob Perry, the Texas builder who was a major financier of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, for a year-to-date total of $4 million; $1 million from Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino mogul and longtime conservative donor; and $1 million from Paul Singer, the hedge fund manager, who has now contributed $2 million to the group this year.

In addition, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce donated $1 million, bringing its total to $5.4 million. A number of corporations also wrote sizable checks, including Cisco Systems, for $35,000; Microsoft, for $100,000; and Motorola, for $50,000. (These companies also contributed to the Democratic Governors Association.)

So, Merck's 355k contribution is a pittance in terms of even amounts contributed to the RGA by the MI Chamber of Commerce. Nice try though - keep digging.