Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tobacco Firms’ Gifts To Political Parties Soar Money, Mostly To Gop, Is Five Times The Amount In Same Post-Election Period Four Years Ago

Karen Gullo Associated Press

With hopes pinned on congressional approval of their big settlement, tobacco companies gave $2 million to political parties in the first half of this year. That was nearly five times what they gave in the same period of 1993 after the previous presidential election.

The lion’s share went to the GOP.

“The increase is astounding,” said Ann McBride, president of the private group Common Cause, which compiled the figures from Federal Election Commission reports.

The flood of “soft money” donations comes at a sensitive time for the tobacco companies. They have faced accusations that they hid smoking’s dangers, and they are hoping for congressional approval of a settlement that could shield them from smokers’ lawsuits.

Seven tobacco companies and two tobacco groups gave nearly $1.6 million to Republican committees and $324,461 to Democrats in the first half of this year, according to Common Cause’s analysis.

That compares with $413,865 in soft money to both parties for the same period four years ago. Such donations can be used only for party activities, not for specific candidates.

The two major parties received $4 million from tobacco interests during the 1996 election year when political fund raising was at a peak. The first six months after a presidential election normally are slow for fund raising.

Common Cause, which advocates tighter control over political money, said cigarette giant Philip Morris led the pack in the first half of the year, giving $673,715 to Republican committees and $120,823 to Democrats. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and its parent RJR Nabisco gave $340,000 to the GOP and $90,573 to Democrats.

Philip Morris and RJR gave a total of just $111,000 to the two parties after the 1992 election, according to Common Cause.

The surge in donations this year is not surprising, say campaign finance experts, who noted the tobacco industry’s image problems. Cigarette companies have been accused of aiming ads at kids and knowing long ago that smoking is unhealthy and covering it up.

The companies also need to bolster support for the settlement that could save them billions from smokers’ lawsuits. If Congress approves, lawsuits by dozens of state and local governments would be dropped and cigarette makers would pay $368 billion in penalties.

Each election cycle, special interests pour more soft money into the political system. Such donations are not subject to the $25,000-a-year legal contribution limit for each donor.

“It’s pretty clear what their reasoning is,” said Herb Alexander, a political science professor at the University of Southern California and director of Citizens Research Foundation, a nonprofit group that studies money in politics.

The money reminds lawmakers that “the industry has some interests that are important to them and obviously they want their voice heard,” said Alexander.

The tobacco industry won a victory in the recently passed tax bill. While the law increases a tax on cigarettes, it allows the extra revenue to be credited toward whatever overall tobacco settlement comes out of Congress.

The credit, inserted in the massive tax bill at the last minute, is estimated to be worth $50 billion over 25 years.

“It is no coincidence that tobacco companies are among the largest givers of partisan contributions,” said Matt Myers, executive vice president of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. “This is the time where it’s payback for all that quiet giving.”

Philip Morris had no comment on the donations, said spokeswoman Darienne Dennis.

Maura Ellis, spokeswoman for RJR, said the company is being solicited more for donations than it was after the 1992 election.