Tennessee lobbyists contribute almost $2.5 million
The newspaper analyzed records from the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance, the Federal Election Commission and the Institute for Money in Politics.
Tennessee is among nine states that require lobbyists to report their political contributions, according to the Center for Public Integrity, which monitors lobbying activities.
Lobbyists are required by Tennessee law to report to the registry personal contributions they have made to state legislative candidates. Lobbyists’ political action committees also must report their contributions to the registry.
The registry’s records show donations by lobbyists of more than $875,000 from 2001 to 2004 to state legislative candidates.
Records also show $480,428 in contributions from lobbyists’ PACs to state and federal candidates and committees.
The Times Free Press analysis, however, found more than $1.14 million in additional contributions from lobbyists to Tennessee political committees, federal candidates and federal committees.
For example, Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Bob Tuke, a registered lobbyist and a partner in Trauger & Tuke law firm, gave $1,750 to state candidates in 2004, according to the registry. But his total contribution to state candidates in 2004 was $2,500.
The $2,500 included money Tuke gave to a political committee and a judicial candidate, for which there is no requirement to report to the registry.
Tuke also gave federal candidates and committees $2,500 in 2004 and an additional $3,000 through this September.
Tuke said the system needs to be changed.
“It is fundamentally wrong that lobbyists are wielding influence by spending money,” he said.
Leah Rush, director of the state projects for the Center for Public Integrity, also said lobbyists give money to push their agendas with lawmakers.
“Lobbyists are just priming the pump,” she said. “They don’t have to make contributions, so you have to assume they are doing it for a reason.”
But Mark Greene, chairman of the Tennessee Lobbyists Association, said lobbyists have a right to make campaign contributions.
“We don’t exclude doctors, nurses or firefighters from giving contributions,” Greene said. “Why would we exclude lobbyists?”
Lobbyists’ PACs are like any other PAC, Greene said.
“I don’t see anything sinister,” he said. “You are supporting people who will listen to you. You don’t buy votes.”
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Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press, http://www.timesfreepress.com