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127 Donors Gave State-Level Candidates and Political Parties

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127 Donors Gave State-Level Candidates and Political Parties ANALYSIS: 127 DONORS EACH GAVE $50,000 OR MORE TO STATE COMMITTEES OVER PAST YEAR For immediate release: For more information: Friday February 3, 2012 Bill Mahoney, (518) 817-3738 127 donors gave state-level candidates and political parties $50,000 or more over the past year.1 Together they gave $16,837,067.93, more than a third of all the money raised by these committees. Many of these donors took advantage of the various loopholes in New York’s campaign finance law: individuals gave more than the $150,000 annual limit by donating to political parties’ housekeeping accounts, and businesses used corporate subsidiaries and multiple LLCs to greatly surpass their corporate $5,000 annual aggregate limit. Of the donors who gave $50,000 or more, Governor Cuomo received the most money: $2,959,426.04 from 79 of these 127. Attorney General Schneiderman came in 11th with $334,500 from these sources, and was followed by Senators McDonald (13th), Saland (14th), Alesi (15th), Skelos (16th), Grisanti (18th), and Libous (20th). Comptroller DiNapoli came in 19th; the remaining eleven largest recipients on the top twenty list were party committees. The following chart lists each of the 127, the total amount they gave, who the largest recipient(s) were, and brief donor profile information. For donors that lobby, the dollar amount and ranking provided for the their lobby expenditures represent the first ten months of 2011, the most recent time frame for which complete information is available. In many cases, it was clear that differently-named corporations were actually subsidiaries of one business. For example, if multiple LLCs were found based out of one address, their ownership was checked in the Department of State’s database of corporations and often linked to a single source. However, it is possible that some donors who used companies with dissimilar names that wrote checks from different addresses have not yet been identified as being connected. Until campaign finance disclosure requirements are reformed to illuminate these relationships, there will likely be a few donors for whom the full extent of their contributions is not accurately identified. RANK DONOR TOTAL LARGEST DONATION(S) LEONARD LITWIN & 1 HOLDINGS $698,300.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($125,000) Company Glenwood Management #23 lobby client in NYS, spending $641,382 in first 10 months of 2011 on lobbying. Issues lobbied on include "real estate and related land use and environmental issues" and "tenant 1 This report looks at the most recent year available: Jan. 12, 2011 through Jan. 11, 2012. legislation." LLCs through which he gave include 56th Realty, 79th St Realty, 80th Realty, 92nd Realty, Arwin 74th St., Arwin 88th St., Barclay St. Realty, Briar Hill Realty, Columbus 60th Realty, E 103rd St., E 46th Realty, E 77 Realty, E 81 Realty, E 8th Realty, Liberty Street Realty, River York Barclay, Tribeca North End, and West 37th St Parking. 2 VOTE/COPE (NYSUT) $639,204.00 WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC. ($140,000) #3 lobby client ($4,076,582). In NYPIRG's annual ranking of interest groups by combined lobbying expenses and campaign contributions, NYSUT has finished in the top 5 in all but one year since 1994 NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (DACC) 3 LAWPAC OF NEW YORK $590,750.00 ($102,300) #20 lobby client ($709,290) AUTHUR H. CHRISTY EXEC. ESTATE OF HENRY CONSERVATIVE PARTY NYS (HEADQUARTERS ACCOUNT) 4 SANDERS $542,710.10 ($542,710.1) Bequeathed this money to the NY Conservative Party.2 5 EMPIRE DENTAL PAC $487,643.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($102,300) $138,585 spent as lobby client NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 6 TIME WARNER CABLE $438,705.13 ($162,662.52) #40 lobby client ($389,584) NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 7 MICHAEL BLOOMBERG $371,500.00 ($250,000) In 2011, Bloomberg also spent $5.6 million running ads in New York City. Over the years, he may have put more money into New York state and local politics than any previous individual, union, or business. Even after adjusting for inflation, Bloomberg spent more personal money in 2009's mayoral election alone than Nelson Rockefeller did in four statewide elections. NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 8 GNYHA $366,550.00 ($200,000) #7 lobby client ($1,301,350); half of #2 client (1199 & GNYHA Healthcare Edu. Project) ($6,802,949M) NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 9 HANYS PAC $341,705.00 ($80000) #9 lobby client ($1,181,056) 10 1199 SEIU $325,950.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($100,000) #44 lobby client ($352,998); also lobbies as half of #2 client (1199 & GNYHA Healthcare Edu. Project) ($6,802,949) RPAC NYS ASSOCIATION 11 OF REALTORS $319,199.92 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($112,500) #11 lobby client ($954,547) NYS CORRECTION OFFICERS P.B.A NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (DACC), NYS 12 (NYSCOPBA PAC) $273,783.12 SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($57,500) $141,748 spent as lobby client MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NY PAC-STATE 13 FUND $250,850.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($82,000) #13 lobby client ($909,422) 2 http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Campaign-donations-come-from-new-and-old-sources-2674417.php. NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 14 PAUL SINGER $242,200.00 ($100,000) Republican financier who supported gay marriage efforts,3 founder of Elliott Management. NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 15 DANIEL LOEB $236,567.00 ($150,000) Republican financier who supported gay marriage efforts.4 16 CABLEVISION $235,317.32 ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC. ($55,000) #16 lobby client ($816,077) NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE (HOUSEKEEPING) 17 STEVEN ROTH $227,200.00 ($100,000) Real estate developer who reportedly was partially motivated by gay marriage debate.5 Serves as Chairman of the Board of Vornado Realty Trust, which made some campaign contributions not included in this total and was the #67 lobby client ($288,005) NEW YORK REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 18 H.J. KALIKOW LLC $222,000.00 ($100,000) Real estate firm led by the former MTA chairman Peter Kalikow. NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 19 JONATHAN POLLOCK $217,900.00 ($100,000) Wall Street executive who supported gay marriage.6 EMPIRE MERCHANTS NORTH, LLC AND EMPIRE 20 MERCHANTS, LLC $215,650.00 ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC. ($85,000) Spent $153,726 lobbying on issues dealing with alcohol shipping. NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 21 VERIZON $202,400.00 ($99,000) #10 lobby client ($1,021,727) FRIENDS FOR THE ELECTION OF DEAN SKELOS, CARLUCCI FOR NEW YORK, COMMITTEE TO ELECT MCDONALD TO THE SENATE, NEW 22 REAL ESTATE BOARD PAC $197,075.00 YORKERS FOR KLEIN ($103,00) #47 lobby client ($347,501) PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 23 AMERICA (PHARMA) $196,700.00 ($125,000) #38 lobby client ($427,694) NEW YORK STATE 24 TROOPERS PAC $184,546.02 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($45,000) The PBA of the NYS Troopers spent $2,266 lobbying. WILSON, ELSER, MOSKOWITZ, EDELMAN & 25 DICKER $173,719.40 ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC. ($25,000) 3 http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/the-financiers-who-helped-back-n-y-gay-marriage-campaign/ 4 Ibid. 5 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/nyregion/money-flows-to-gop-backers-of-gay-marriage-in-new- york.html?pagewanted=2&ref=samesexmarriage 6 Ibid. Perennial #1 lobby firm. Earned $8,459,470 in lobby payments first 10 months of 2011. Clients include several organizations that also appear on this list, such as #9 HANYS, #48 Hospitals Insurance Company, and #88 KPMG. 32BJ NY/NJ AMERICAN 26 DREAM FUND $171,975.00 WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC. ($85,650) Spent $136,918 lobbying NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 27 WAL*MART STORES, INC. $171,750.00 ($150,000) #4 lobby client ($2,650,015) RENT STABILIZATION 28 ASSOCIATION $168,800.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($100,000) "The largest real estate industry trade association in New York."7 Spent $213,344 lobbying. NEW YORK STATE FUNERAL DIRECTORS 29 ASSOCIATION $167,300.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($40,000) Spent $126,247 lobbying. NEW YORK STATE AFL-CIO NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (DACC) 30 COPE ACCOUNT $165,465.00 ($23,000) #71 lobby client ($275,947) 31 THE RELATED COMPANIES $165,000.00 NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE ($150,000) Spent $87,311 lobying. NYC CORRECTION OFFICER'S BENEVOLENT 32 ASSOCIATION $164,412.10 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($50,000) Spent $141,748 lobbying. 33 CWA DISTRICT ONE PAC $155,324.00 WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC. ($47,855) #46 lobby client ($349,687) NEW YORK REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 34 DAVID KOCH $150,400.00 ($100,000) Second-richest New Yorker (behind only #7 on this list, Mayor Bloomberg). Major donor to conservative causes who supports gay marriage.8 NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE (HOUSEKEEPING) 35 BROOKFIELD FINANCIAL $149,000.00 ($145,000) #41 lobby client ($371,477). Two subsidiaries gave $3,500 to Governor Cuomo. NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING 36 AT&T $138,650.00 ($35,500) #35 lobby client ($438,403) 37 PEPSI COLA BOTTLERS PAC $135,800.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($51,000) Spent $226,677 lobbying in the first ten months of 2010. SENECA NATION OF 38 INDIANS $134,500.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($90,000) Spent $147,756 lobbying in the first ten months of 2010. 7 http://www.rsanyc.com/about.html 8 http://nymag.com/news/features/67285/index4.html NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (DACC) AND 39 CSEA PAC $130,798.00 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ($50,000) #88 lobby client ($246,304) 40 DARYL ROTH $127,200.00 ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.
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