Washington Examiner

Anti-corporate Democrats accept money from corporate-funded PACs: ‘Hypocrites’

House Democrats​ Continue to Accept Corporate PAC Donations⁤ Despite‍ Pledge

House Democrats ⁤who have ⁤vowed to decline cash from corporate PACs​ or tried to ban ⁣them pocketed‍ large donations⁤ in‌ the second quarter of ⁤2023 from committees bankrolled ‍by ⁣major‍ corporations, records show.

Breaking Their ‌Pledge

Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME), Mike Levin‍ (D-CA), and Chris Pappas (D-NH) in 2021 ‍and 2022​ co-sponsored the ⁣Ban⁤ Corporate PACs Act,⁤ which ​would prohibit‌ “for-profit‍ corporations from⁤ establishing or operating ⁢a separate segregated political fund.” Still, the long-shot ‍proposal hasn’t stopped​ the cohort ‌and other Democrats‌ critical of corporate ‌PACs‍ from‍ taking tens of thousands of dollars in campaign ​contributions between‌ April and June from corporate-backed leadership committees ⁢or, in some cases, corporations themselves,‍ according to⁤ Federal Election Commission filings.

The⁢ Influence of Corporate Money

“Corporate money seeps all through ⁣the‍ political system,” Craig Holman, a government affairs ‍lobbyist for the left-leaning think⁤ tank Public Citizen, ‌told ⁢the Washington Examiner,‍ noting ⁤this reality‌ makes it ‍difficult for Democrats‍ to follow an anti-corporate PAC pledge. ‌”I ‍don’t ‌object to the ban, but corporate money‍ gets‌ into these campaigns ‍anyway ‍through other vehicles ⁣—​ if not directly from ‌corporate PACs.”

In the ‌last‍ several years, dozens of Democratic⁤ members⁤ of ‌Congress have sworn ‍off ‌corporate PAC ⁣money to try⁤ to distance‍ themselves from perceived special interests.‍ The⁢ move has⁣ led⁤ to ⁣calls of hypocrisy from Republicans since many top ​companies have continued to pour ⁤contributions ​into Democratic⁢ campaign coffers.

Lobbyists⁣ and other government affairs staffers typically ⁣run ​corporate ‌PACs⁣ and authorize donations, ‌even though⁣ the committees fundraise ⁢from ​stockholders and senior employees,⁣ according to End ⁢Citizens ‍United, a⁢ left-wing advocacy⁤ group.

Breaking Down⁤ the Donations

Golden, who in⁤ May‌ 2020 ⁤said in an ⁤anti-corporate PAC ‌money advertisement‌ he is “fighting‌ for the ‍Mainers who work ⁤hard just to ⁣keep up ‍with the bills,” has ⁢continued⁣ to have his ⁣war​ chest boosted thanks to⁢ corporate PAC-funded Democratic​ leadership committees.⁤ In backing the ban on corporate PACs, Golden said the “government‌ should be responsive to the people, not corporate special interests.”

The Maine Democrat ⁣was on‍ the⁣ receiving ⁢end of⁤ $17,000 in ⁣campaign donations from eight leadership committees‍ backed by corporate ⁣PACs, according⁢ to ⁢a ⁤Washington​ Examiner analysis of ⁢second-quarter disclosures.‍ For ‌instance, Blue Hen Federal‌ PAC, which is ​affiliated⁣ with ‌Sen. Chris ​Coons‌ (D-DE), ⁤cut⁢ Golden ⁢a $5,000‌ check⁣ in June.

Levin received more⁢ than⁢ $20,000 in the second quarter⁢ of ⁢2023 from 13 corporate-backed‍ leadership committees, including those affiliated with Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), ‌Gerry Connolly (D-VA),‍ and Sara ​Jacobs (D-CA), according to⁤ filings.

Similarly, Pappas received‌ over $31,000 during the second quarter from 17 Democratic leadership‌ committees funded⁣ by corporate PACs, according to​ a‍ Washington⁣ Examiner analysis of disclosures.

Meanwhile,⁤ Rep. Jahana ‍Hayes (D-CT), who​ said she wouldn’t ​take ⁣corporate PAC‍ dollars, received ⁢$5,000 in‍ May from Home ‍Depot’s⁤ committee ‌and​ $1,000 apiece from PACs ⁤for‌ Voya‌ Financial and ‌Verizon in⁣ June.

Rep. ​Seth Magaziner (D-RI) accepted $22,000 combined in quarter two​ from ​15 corporate PACs, including Visa, Verizon,⁣ AT&T, ⁢and‍ General Dynamics. The ‍congressman has promised⁣ to⁤ stand up to​ “corporate⁤ special⁢ interests.”

Campaigns ⁢for Golden, ‌Levin, Pappas, Hayes, ⁢and ‍Magaziner did‍ not return requests for comment.



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