FPL AMONG BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS TO PARTIES

(My apologies for posting this article, but it isn't anywhere to link to yet. The point is, our utilities are spending big bucks influencing legislators. That translates into expensive unneeded nukes, a pliable PSC, and insignificant energy efficiency programs. BN)

By JOHN KENNEDY
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Oct. 14, 2009....No surprise, but some of the big contributors to the Florida Democratic and Republican parties over the past quarter also have spent time attracting headlines.

Florida Power & Light, whose rate case has convulsed the Public Service Commission and may have contributed to the ouster of two commissioners, was the top individual contributor to the state GOP.

The utility giant gave $181,000 of the party’s $3.8 million take in the three months that ended Sept. 30. Dosal Tobacco, the Miami-Dade County low-cost cigarette manufacturer which successfully fought the state’s new $1-a-pack tax on smokes, showed its gratitude by giving $87,500 to Republicans, who also rule the Legislature.

The Florida Medical Association, which is warily watching federal health care legislation, gave state Republicans $150,000, while the resort developers’ political action committee gave $125,000.

Florida Energy Associates, which is pushing hard to open Gulf of Mexico waters to offshore oil-drilling, contributed $40,000 to the party during the three months ending Sept. 30.

For Florida Democrats, who raised $2.5 million in the quarter, the Fort Lauderdale business law firm, Rothstein, Rosenfeldt Adler provided almost 10 percent of the party take – giving $200,000.

Walt Disney World wasn’t far back – giving $160,000; with FPL donating $135,000, while the company was watching PSC proceedings.

Then there were PACs: The state’s credit union committee gave $80,000 to Democrats and the Florida Association of Insurance Agents contributed $75,000.

And those oil-drilling proponents, Florida Energy Associates, also looked to make friends with Democrats, giving the party $30,000.
--END--
10/14/2009

Independent and Indispensable

http://www.newsserviceflorida.com