Presidential Pipeline: Bush's top fund-raisers see spoils of victory

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05352/624259.stm

First of a series
Sunday, December 18, 2005

By Jim Tankersley, Joshua Boak and Christopher D. Kirkpatrick, The Toledo Blade

The Series

Today: An overview
Tomorrow: The Bush fundraising network had its roots in Texas and Florida

President Bush's corporate champions see the spoils of his administration in coal. And timber. And credit-card payments, Afghan electric lines, Japanese bank transfers and fake crab.

America's business leaders supplied more than $75 million to return Mr. Bush to the White House last year -- and he has paid dividends.

Bush administration policies, grand and obscure, have financially benefited companies or lobbying clients tied to at least 200 of the president's largest campaign fund-raisers, a Toledo Blade investigation has found. Dozens more stand to gain from Bush-backed initiatives that recently passed or await congressional approval.

The investigation included targeted tax breaks, regulatory changes, pro-business legislation, high-profile salaried appointments, and federal contracts.

Mr. Bush's policies often followed specific requests from his 548 "Pioneers" and "Rangers," who each raised at least $100,000 or $200,000 for his 2004 re-election. The help to business fund-raisers sometimes came at the expense of consumers or public health concerns.

[DeepModem Mom]

1. K&R