The Governor's Gusher: Money By Interest Category

The Governor's Gusher:

The Sources of George W. Bush's $41 Million texas War Chest

home | table of contents | previous | next

IV. Money By Interest Category

Texans For Public Justice scrutinized all of Bush�s big donors, identifying the economic or ideological interests behind $28 million of the $41 million that Bush raised. These interests are categorized into three main categories (business, labor and ideological interests) and 14 subcategories, which break business money down by industry.

Business donors dominated Bush�s fundraising, accounting for $26.7 million (96 percent of all the identified money raised).
Ideological donors contributed a total of $280,000, led by the Republican National State Election Committee ($60,000), the Associated Republicans of Texas ($28,500), the pro-voucher Putting Children First PAC ($26,000) and Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($25,000).
Labor contributors gave just $99,500, led by the Teamsters ($55,000) and the Texas Classroom Teachers Association ($11,000).

A. Detailed Interest Categories

Thanks to the oil industry, Energy & Natural Resources donors dominated the 14 subcategories, delivering $5.6 million to Bush, or 20 percent of his classified war chest.
Financial industry donors ranked second, delivering $4.8 million, or 17 percent of Bush�s classified total.
Miscellaneous Business interests contributed $3.9 million or 14 percent, led by business machine tycoon Dennis Berman, a Bush fundraising Pioneer.*

Interest Category	Total	Percent	Number of Contributions
Agriculture	$909,286	3.2%	326
Communications & Electronics	$2,027,599	7.3%	561
Construction	$1,372,047	5.0%	563
Energy & Natural Resources	$5,545,035	20.0%	1,642
Finance	$4,804,015	17.3%	1,408
Health	$1,871,289	6.8%	796
Ideological	$ 287,234	1.0%	81
Insurance	$1,093,843	3.9%	309
Labor	$99,500	.4%	22
Lawyers & Lobbyists	$2,363,287	8.5%	918
Miscellaneous Business	$3,904,472	14.1%	1,314
Other	$628,995	2.2%	356
Real Estate	$1,839,323	6.6%	531
Transportation	$970,459	3.5%	425
Total	$27,716,384	100%	9,252

B. Tort Tycoons Deliver $4 Million

PACs, business and individuals affiliated with Texas� two major corporate tort groups contributed a total of $4.1 million to Bush�s two gubernatorial campaigns. As such, these business tort interests contributed more than any other interest category besides Energy and Natural Resources. Texas� two leading corporate tort groups advocate limits on legal liability for businesses that have harmed consumers, workers or communities.

**Contributions Tied To Texas Tort Groups**
Tort Group	'94 Campaign	'98 Campaign	Totals
Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR)	$1,324,570	$2,247,818	$3,572,388
Texas Civil Justice League (TCJL)	$75,164	$507,991	$583,155
Total	$1,399,734	$2,755,809	$4,155,543

Note: Totals include contributions from the two tort groups' PACs, the PACs of businesses
on TCJL's Board of Directors, and from individuals who sit on TLR's Board of Governors.

Top Tort Dodgers Contributing to Bush
Rank	Name	Business Interests	Affiliation	Amount
1	Louis A. Beecherl, Jr.	Energy/Natural Resources	TLR	$146,000
2	Phillip D. Adams	Insurance	TLR	$135,000
3	Peter O'Donnell, Jr.	Finance	TLR	$128,500
4	Robert C. McNair	Energy/Natural Resources	TLR	$120,000
5	David H. Dewhurst, III	Energy/Natural Resources	TLR	$105,500
6	Ray L. Hunt	Energy/Natural Resources	TLR	$105,000
7	Drayton McLane, Jr.	Misc. Business	TLR	$104,000
8	Kenneth L. Lay	Energy/Natural Resources	TLR	$100,000
9	William A. McMinn	Chemicals	TLR	$100,000
10	Frederick R. Meyer	Misc. Business	TLR	$100,000
11	Harold Simmons	Finance	TLR	$90,000
12	J. Virgil Waggoner	Chemicals	TLR	$85,000
13	Texas Association of Realtors	Real Estate	TCJL	$83,472
14	James R. Leininger	Health Products	TLR	$79,750
15	Texas Dental Association	Health	TCJL	$73,425
16	Ramiro A. Galindo	Real Estate Development	TLR	$70,000
17	Locke Purnell Rain Harrell	Law	TCJL	$65,137
18	Charles Miller	Finance	TLR	$60,000
19	Robert B. Rowling	Energy/Natural Resources	TLR	$57,500
20	James D. Pitcock, Jr.	Construction	TLR	$52,000
			Total	$1,860,284

* �Pioneer� donors have pledged to raise a minimum of $100,000 for Bush�s presidential race

home | table of contents | previous | next