Side Bar: Markey and Musgrave PAC contributors

To see TCI’s in-depth article on the top 20 PACs donating to Colorado’s 4th Congressional candidates click here.

Betsy Markey’s Top 10 PACs:


1) UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS INTL UNION:


1.3 million members of meat packers, grocers, etc has spent mostly on other PACs and state Democrat orgs nationwide including the DCCC. Independent expenditures have mostly been spent in favor of Barack Obama. Open Secrets backgrounder


2) AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS


A national teachers union with a Colorado chapter that lobbies for teachers unions – Spent all of its $1,870,436 in Independent expenditures on Hillary.  Has donated mostly to other PACs and the DCCC. Open Secrets backgrounder


3) OUR COMMON VALUES PAC (Rep. Rahm Emanuel D-IL) no Web site


Leadership PAC of Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Mostly donated to other House Democrats, both incumbent and challengers. Emanuel is the former chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the current chairman of the Democratic Caucus. Open Secrets backgrounder


4) INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS


The IBEW represents some 725,000 members in construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government. They are the oldest, strongest and largest union devoted to electrical workers. The AFL-CIO-affiliated labor union represents more than 750,000 electrical workers nationwide. Like other unions, IBEW lobbies legislation that would affect the rights of its workers, from health care reform to proposed changes in collective bargaining rules. However, its agenda can vary from the broad issues, like deregulation of the nation’s energy markets, to the very specific, as in funding for Amtrak. A heavy-hitter, IBEW in the top 100 donors since 1989 in total dollars spent. Open Secrets backgrounder


5) ROCKY MOUNTAIN PAC (Sen. Ken Salazar, D-CO) no Web site


A leadership PAC run by Sen. Ken Salazar. Markey is a former Salazar field director and has received his endorsement. Markey is the only U.S. House candidate Salazar’s PAC has donated to with the bulk of his funding going to Senate Democrats. Open Secrets backgrounder


6) HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN


The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens supports candidates who support gay rights. The organization has donated heavily to Udall for Colorado and the DCCC.

Open Secrets backgrounder


7) THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP PAC (Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-NY)


Leadership PAC of Rep. Charles Rangel, D-NY that has donated mostly to House Democrat candidates as well as state parties and the DCCC. Rangel is the chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. The PAC’s largest expenditure behind payroll expenses are catering charges from the upscale Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York City. Open Secrets backgrounder


8) COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 7777


CWA, the country’s largest communications and media union, represents over 700,000 men and women in both private and public sectors. CWA members are employed in telecommunications, broadcasting, cable TV, journalism, publishing, electronics and general manufacturing, as well as airline customer service, government service, health care, education and other fields. Open Secrets backgrounder


9) CARPENTERS LEGISLATIVE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE / CARPENTERS AND JOINERS UNION


The Carpenters Union represents more than 520,000 workers in the building-trades industry including carpenters, cabinetmakers, millwrights, pile drivers, lather, framers, roofers, among many others. The group used all of its $104,681 of Independent Expenditures to the John Edwards for President campaign. Open Secrets background


10) BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IN DIVERSE GEOGRAPHIC ENVIRONMENT (James E. Clyburn D-SC) no Web site


Leadership PAC of Rep. James Clyburn, D-SC, who has given only to House Democrat candidates, the DCCC and other PACs, primarily Democrat leadership PACs. Clyburn is the House Majority Whip for the Democratic party. Open Secrets backgrounder


Marilyn Musgrave’s Top 10 PACs:


1) SUSAN B ANTHONY CANDIDATE LIST


SBA supports pro-life woman candidates in Congress and other high public office. It recruits and endorses pro-life woman candidates as well sitting elected members. In addition to donating the maximum amount to Musgrave, the group has funneled more than $100,000 in individual donations to her campaign. Open Secrets backgrounder


2) DEALERS ELECTION ACTION COMMITTEE


The National Automobile Dealers Association, founded in 1917, represents more than 19,700 new car and truck dealers, both domestic and international, with more than 43,000 separate franchises. The group is actively donating to both the major political parties in Washington, D.C.  and to candidates in both parties. The groups giving is primarily to House members though. Open secrets backgrounder


3) THE COMMITTEE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CAPITALISM (Rep. Jim McCrery, R-LA) no Web site


Leadership PAC of Rep. Jim McCrery, R-LA Who has given extensively to Republican House candidates and other leadership PACs. MCrery, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, announced his retirement from Congress this year in an effort to spend more time with his family. Open Secrets backgrounder


4) ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS PAC


Builders and construction PAC that gives primarily to Republican House candidates but also gives to Senate Republican candidates. The PAC has given money to Democrat House candidates but no Democrat Senate candidates. Open Secrets backgrounder


5) EVERY REPUBLICAN IS CRUCIAL (Rep. Eric Cantor R-VA)


Leadership PAC of Rep. Eric Cantor, R-VA, who has given primarily to Republican House candidates as well as Republican PACs. Cantor, the Deputy Minority Whip, started the ERICPAC after he rose into a leadership position in 2002. Published accounts in The Hill (link not available) have said Cantor’s PAC was started by Republican leadership to assist House members in close elections. Open Secrets backgrounder


6) FREEDOM PROJECT (Rep. John Boehner, R-OH)


Leadership PAC of Rep. John Boehner, R-OH) who has given primarily to Republican House candidates but also some Senate Republicans as well as Republican PACs. Boehner, serves as the Minority Leader in Congress and has a very active PAC. Open Secrets backgrounder


7) CREDIT UNION LEGISLATIVE ACTION COUNCIL


The Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) is the federal PAC for the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). CULAC’s purpose is to lobby for legislation that benefits the credit union industry by actively donating to elected officials who have voted favorably to their cause. In the 2003-2004 election cycle, CULAC contributed over $2.3 million to credit union-friendly candidates, ranking it the 11th largest PAC in the United States and the 7th largest among trade associations in contributions to federal candidates, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). During that same cycle, credit union members made over 40,000 individual contributions totaling nearly $3.5 million to CULAC. Open Secrets backgrounder


8) RELY ON YOUR BELIEFS FUND (Rep. Roy Blunt, R-MO)


Leadership PAC for Rep. Roy Blunt, R-MO which has given primarily to Republican House Candidates and some Senate Candidates. The PAC has also given to other Republican PACs and the national party. Blunt serves as the Minority Whip for the Republican House leadership. Along with Majority Leader John Boehner and Minority Deputy Whip, Eric Cantor, Blunt has donated the maximum to Musgrave in 2008. Open Secrets backgrounder


9) CONSERVATIVE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP & ENTERPRISE PAC – Rep. Tom Cole, R-OK) no Web site


Leadership PAC for Rep. Tom Cole, R-OK, which has given primarily to Republican House Candidates and some Senate candidates; The PAC has also given to other Republican PACs and the national party. Open Secrets backgrounder


10) AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PAC no Web site


Agricultural PAC for crop production and basic processing that contributes with a heavier emphasis on Democrats in the House and Senate but also a contributor to Republicans in both chambers. Musgrave’s 4th Congressional District in Colorado is largely made up of agricultural farmers located on Colorado’s eastern plains. Open Secrets backgrounder