"Utilities Have Helped Bush, GOP"

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-donations6may06,1,5769784,print.story?coll=la-headlines-elect2004

Utilities Have Helped Bush, GOP

Industry has donated $6.6 million since 1999. It also got relief from costly pollution laws.
By Elizabeth Shogren
Times Staff Writer

May 6, 2004

WASHINGTON — The 30 companies that own most of the dirtiest power plants in the country, and their trade association, have raised $6.6 million for President Bush and the Republican National Committee since 1999, and were given relief from pollution regulations that would have cost them billions of dollars, according to a new analysis.

Ten utility industry officials were so good at fundraising for the president that his campaign named them Rangers for bringing in at least $200,000 or Pioneers for bringing in at least $100,000, according to the analysis by Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, and the Environmental Integrity Project, an environmental watchdog organization.

Collectively these 10 people have raised more than $1.5 million since 1999.

"It is no coincidence that a wholesale assault on the Clean Air Act is taking place today," said Environmental Integrity Project Director Eric Schaeffer.

Frank Clemente, director of Public Citizen's Congress Watch, said it was a "classic" story about the role of campaign contributions in Washington. Utility industry officials faced aggressive enforcement actions by the Clinton administration requiring them to install expensive pollution controls at coal-fired power plants.

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[keithyboy]

1. It's called graft and bribery!

And the Republicans are the 'gangsters.' Remember, they tried to bride one of their own (Smith) Congressmen to vote for the Medicare sleaze bill. Threatened to ruin his son's career in politics too.

[pansypoo53219]

2. bribe?

more like a big sloppy kiss cause the idiot Bush thinks like they do.