Pennsylvania State Representative Joe Preston Controlled by Special Interest Money
The impact of special interest money on Pennsylvania's election process has long been a concern for the vast majority of us. Voters want to know their elected representative is serving them, not the wealthy special interest that may support the politician financially.
Special interest groups are a collection of individuals or societies with shared interests and values who aim at determining the decisions made by politicians.
Special interest groups expect a good return on their political investments. It has thus created a dysfunctional legislature. Our government ordained by the people is fast becoming a permanent ruling class, in effect a surrogate plutocracy (a form of government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of wealthy special interests that arrange the continual reelection of representatives who govern as their surrogates).
Some office holders have treated their campaign committee as more or less open-ended slush funds.
JOE PRESTON RECEIVED $563,937 FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS:
Candidates $111,396
Utilities $ 52,525
Lawyers & Lobbyists $ 52,500
Construction $ 35,925
Public Sector Unions $ 32,822
Telecom Services $ 26,942
General Trade Unions $ 19,550
Healthcare $ 16,000
Banks $ 14,200
Political Parties $ 7,910
Oil & Gas $ 6,825
Home Builders $ 6,250
Automotive $ 5,800
Miscellaneous Energy $ 5,450
NOTEWORTHY CONTRIBUTORS:
UTILITIES
First Energy Corp $ 10,025
PPL Corp $ 9,775
PECO Energy $ 7,850
Dominion $ 4,300
UGI Utilities $ 3,000
Duquesne Light $ 2,925
National Fuel Gas $ 2,775
Morgan K. Obrien $ 2,000
James Schwing $ 2,000
Energy Association $ 2,000
NISOURCE $ 1,750
Columbia Gas $ 1,500
Exelon $ 1,500
Sunoco, Inc $ 1,500
EQT $ 1,250
CPU Energy $ 800
TELECOM SERVICES
Verizon $ 7,867
Comcast $ 6,250
AT&T $ 3,000
Sprint Nextel $ 2,500
EMBARQ $ 2,175
Broadband Cable ASSOC $ 1,650
CONSTRUCTION
Robert Agbede $ 19,000
Michael Baker Corp $ 2,500
ATS-Chester $ 2,000
Robert J. Lewis $ 1,500
LAWYERS & LOBBYISTS
PA Assoc For Justice $ 10,250
S R Wojdak $ 3,250
Ma Lady & Wooten $ 2,450
Thorp Reed Armstrong $ 2,000
Pa Bar Assoc $ 1,800
Klett Lieber Rooney $ 1,550
K&L Gates $ 1,500
Wolf Block $ 1,500
CRISCI Assoc $ 1,500
George W. Jacoby $ 1,500
Eustace Uku $ 1,000
Renardo L. Hicks $ 1,000
Ray Middleman $ 1,000
Charlene R. McAbee $ 1,000
Buchanan Ingersoil $ 800
R. Dell Ziger $ 500
PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS
National Assoc Ed $ 10,075
AFSCME Council 13 $ 6,897
PGH Federaion Teachers $ 1,950
Assoc PA Faculties $ 1,750
GENERAL TRADE UNIONS
PA AFL-CIO $ 4,000
Communication Workers $ 2,000
Greater Pgh Carpenters $ 1,700
HEALTHCARE
PA Psychological Assoc $ 2,600
Betty O. Udekwu $ 3,000
Pa Anesthesiologists $ 2,000
Astrazeneca $ 1,400
PA Ophthalmology $ 1,250
Highmark $ 800
TRANSPORTATION
PA Automotive Assoc $ 2,500
James D. Campolongo $ 2,000
PA Motor Truck Assoc $ 2,000
PA Recreational Vehicle $ 1,500
Independent Auto Dealer $ 1,500
HOME BUILDERS
PA Manufactured Housing $ 4,000
RETAIL SALES
Retailers Assoc $ 4,000
Advanced Technology $ 2,000
Pa Chamber Bus. Indust. $ 1,500
PA Financial Services $ 1,500
REAL ESTATE
PA Assoc of Realtors $ 2,550
Special interest groups are a collection of individuals or societies with shared interests and values who aim at determining the decisions made by politicians.
Special interest groups expect a good return on their political investments. It has thus created a dysfunctional legislature. Our government ordained by the people is fast becoming a permanent ruling class, in effect a surrogate plutocracy (a form of government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of wealthy special interests that arrange the continual reelection of representatives who govern as their surrogates).
Some office holders have treated their campaign committee as more or less open-ended slush funds.
JOE PRESTON RECEIVED $563,937 FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS:
Candidates $111,396
Utilities $ 52,525
Lawyers & Lobbyists $ 52,500
Construction $ 35,925
Public Sector Unions $ 32,822
Telecom Services $ 26,942
General Trade Unions $ 19,550
Healthcare $ 16,000
Banks $ 14,200
Political Parties $ 7,910
Oil & Gas $ 6,825
Home Builders $ 6,250
Automotive $ 5,800
Miscellaneous Energy $ 5,450
NOTEWORTHY CONTRIBUTORS:
UTILITIES
First Energy Corp $ 10,025
PPL Corp $ 9,775
PECO Energy $ 7,850
Dominion $ 4,300
UGI Utilities $ 3,000
Duquesne Light $ 2,925
National Fuel Gas $ 2,775
Morgan K. Obrien $ 2,000
James Schwing $ 2,000
Energy Association $ 2,000
NISOURCE $ 1,750
Columbia Gas $ 1,500
Exelon $ 1,500
Sunoco, Inc $ 1,500
EQT $ 1,250
CPU Energy $ 800
TELECOM SERVICES
Verizon $ 7,867
Comcast $ 6,250
AT&T $ 3,000
Sprint Nextel $ 2,500
EMBARQ $ 2,175
Broadband Cable ASSOC $ 1,650
CONSTRUCTION
Robert Agbede $ 19,000
Michael Baker Corp $ 2,500
ATS-Chester $ 2,000
Robert J. Lewis $ 1,500
LAWYERS & LOBBYISTS
PA Assoc For Justice $ 10,250
S R Wojdak $ 3,250
Ma Lady & Wooten $ 2,450
Thorp Reed Armstrong $ 2,000
Pa Bar Assoc $ 1,800
Klett Lieber Rooney $ 1,550
K&L Gates $ 1,500
Wolf Block $ 1,500
CRISCI Assoc $ 1,500
George W. Jacoby $ 1,500
Eustace Uku $ 1,000
Renardo L. Hicks $ 1,000
Ray Middleman $ 1,000
Charlene R. McAbee $ 1,000
Buchanan Ingersoil $ 800
R. Dell Ziger $ 500
PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS
National Assoc Ed $ 10,075
AFSCME Council 13 $ 6,897
PGH Federaion Teachers $ 1,950
Assoc PA Faculties $ 1,750
GENERAL TRADE UNIONS
PA AFL-CIO $ 4,000
Communication Workers $ 2,000
Greater Pgh Carpenters $ 1,700
HEALTHCARE
PA Psychological Assoc $ 2,600
Betty O. Udekwu $ 3,000
Pa Anesthesiologists $ 2,000
Astrazeneca $ 1,400
PA Ophthalmology $ 1,250
Highmark $ 800
TRANSPORTATION
PA Automotive Assoc $ 2,500
James D. Campolongo $ 2,000
PA Motor Truck Assoc $ 2,000
PA Recreational Vehicle $ 1,500
Independent Auto Dealer $ 1,500
HOME BUILDERS
PA Manufactured Housing $ 4,000
RETAIL SALES
Retailers Assoc $ 4,000
Advanced Technology $ 2,000
Pa Chamber Bus. Indust. $ 1,500
PA Financial Services $ 1,500
REAL ESTATE
PA Assoc of Realtors $ 2,550
posted by kogerfriend at 8:38 AM
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