Koch Meeting Invitees Have Donated $35 Million to Federal Candidates, PACs, and Party Committees
Washington, D.C.--Invitees to the June 2010* Koch Brothers meeting of conservative donors, media, and political figures have contributed at least $35 million to federal candidates, parties, and political committees over the past 20 years, according to Campaign Money Watch analysis of data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics*.
These major donors--representing millions in campaign cash from Wall Street, oil and gas companies, and other big businesses—are likely the same ones funding the millions of dollars in anonymous attack ads this election cycle. The full list of invitees, and their political contributions, is available at www.campaignmoneywatch.com/koch-event.
“If you want to know the secret donors behind the corporate front groups flooding our elections this year, look no further,” said David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. “They may try to skulk around the shadows during this election season, but they are far from unknown to Republican candidates and party committees.”
Facts about the invitees:
- The top ten givers (couples combined) on the invite list, representing the oil industry, financial firms, and other businesses, have given more than $15.2 million to political candidates, committees, and parties since 1990:
|
Names |
Company |
Total Donations |
|
David and Julia Koch |
Koch Industries |
$2,244,480 |
|
Dick Farmer |
Cintas Corporation |
$2,079,291 |
|
John Childs |
J.W. Childs and Associates |
$2,016,350 |
|
Stan and Karen Hubbard |
Hubbard Broadcasting |
$1,383,720 |
|
Foster Friess |
Friess Associates LLC |
$1,379,381 |
|
Rich and Helen DeVos |
Amway |
$1,276,559 |
|
John and Joan Hotchkis |
Ramajal LLC |
$1,083,555 |
|
Jack and Rose Marie Anderson |
Culver Corp. |
$1,078,930 |
|
Fred and Marlene Malek |
Thayer Capital Partners |
$1,034,380 |
|
Ken and Anne Griffin |
Citadel Investment Group |
$877,210 |
|
Jim and Dorothy Patterson |
Gulf Stream Petroleum |
$839,580 |
|
|
Total |
$15,293,436 |
- While the invite list does include movement conservatives like Glenn Beck and the staff of Americans for Prosperity, most of the members represent industries like insurance, oil and gas, financial firms, and other business interests.
- The individuals and couples on the list have given, on average, $217,664 to political candidates, PACs, and party committees.
The Campaign Finance Institute estimates that 527 and nonprofit electioneering will total more than $560 this election cycle. Much of this money is undisclosed, leaving voters to question the motives of these anonymous donors.
*An earlier version of the release incorrectly stated the date of the event as January 2011.
*The list of invitees was posted at ThinkProgress.org yesterday. The campaign finance data is available through the Center for Responsive Politics at www.opensecrets.org. The $35 million total is likely a conservative estimate based on certain limitations in searching.
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Campaign Money Watch works to hold politicians who are against comprehensive campaign finance reform accountable for where they get their political donations. Learn more at www.campaignmoneywatch.com.
