Here are the top donors to Florida’s political parties
In Florida, where donations to individual candidates are subject to strict limits, the big money in politics tends to flow through the parties, campaign committees and other channels.
Jul 31, 202031.4K Shares787.2K Views
In Florida, where donations to individual candidates are subject to strict limits, the big money in politics tends to flow through the parties, campaign committees and other channels. This is one reason why our state leads the nation in spending by party committees, and also why the fundraising totals of state-level candidates seldom yield eye-popping sums. #
The state Democratic Party brought in just over $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2011, much of that money coming from public employee unions and a group helping to sway the Jacksonville elections. The Republican Party of Florida raised nearly $3.5 million, with much of it coming from traditional big-time donors, like health care interests and utilities with matters before state government. #
Florida Power & Light gave $30,000 to the state Republican Party this past quarter, but its parent company, NextEra Energy, gave $250,000 in June — the largest single contribution of the period, the highest total from a group other than Conservatives for a Better Jacksonville. #
The next-largest contributors were U.S. Sugar Corporation, which gave $225,000 to the Republican Party, and insurance giant Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which gave $224,625, divided among Republicans and Democrats. #
Other health care interests poured money into Republican Party coffers: Hospital chain Tenet Healthcare gave $160,000, while Health Management Associates gave $100,000, as did Preferred Care Partners, which operates Medicare Advantage plans in South Florida. Political action committees tied to HCA gave $110,000, all of it during the final week of June and spread out among regional groups in installments of $12,500 or less at a time. #
Tampa Electric Company, meanwhile, gave Republicans more than $146,000 and Democrats $20,000, and [*The Miami Herald *notes ](mining interests associated with anderson mining, the phosphate and mining giant, gave the party a total of $190,000. joe anderson, retired exec of anderson mining corp., gave $90,000 and his company's georgia affiliant, junction city mining, gave $100,000. the industry worked hard to exempt phosphate mines from the growth management laws called developments of regional impact. read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/07/connecting-the-dots-on-the-second-quarter-campaign-finance-reports-just-in-tonight-and-heres-what-we-find-nextera-energy.html#more#ixzz1RuumoNgG)that other major GOP contributions came from sources tied to Anderson Mining, a firm that could benefit from some regulations relaxed during this legislative session: #
“„Mining interests associated with Anderson Mining, the phosphate and mining giant, gave the party a total of $190,000. Joe Anderson, retired exec of Anderson Mining Corp., gave $90,000 and his company’s Georgia affiliant, Junction City Mining, gave $100,000. The industry worked hard to exempt phosphate mines from the growth management laws called developments of regional impact. #
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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