Most extensive study of influence of Cuban-American campaign donations finds
targeted donations to members who switched position and an overall shift to
Democrats
WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A report released by Public
Campaign today found that a network of hard-line Cuban-American individual
contributors and a like-minded Political Action Committee (PAC) pumped $10.8
million into federal campaigns since the 2004 election cycle. The report,
"Cold Hard Cash, Cold War Politics," is the most extensive look at how the
community targets campaign contributions to those in power and to members of
Congress who switched their votes toward the hard-line position.
"In many ways, what we have here is the age-old story of the influence of
campaign money in the political process," said David Donnelly, national
programs director for Public Campaign, a national nonpartisan watchdog group
that advocates for public financing of elections. "This report documents, with
indisputable facts, that donations were delivered to a significant number of
members of Congress who changed their position on Cuba policy. Whether we call
that a reward or a campaign donation, it's an indictment of our current
pay-to-play system of campaign financing."
The report found that hard-line Cuban-Americans:
-- Gave to at least 337 federal candidates through the U.S.-Cuba
Democracy
PAC since 2003, 53 percent of whom received reinforcing individual
donations from hard-line Cuban-American donors
-- Vastly increased Cuban-Americans' donations to the Democratic
Senatorial
Campaign Committee (DSCC), and shifted donations to Democrats overall
-- Targeted donations to recipients whose voting record shows a shift in
their position on Cuba policy, including seven who took money and
switched their positions on dates that were in close proximity to one
another
-- Provided, through the PAC and the network of donors, more than
$850,000
to 53 members of Congress who recently publicized their opposition to
changes in the policy just weeks before a key committee hearing on
travel to Cuba
"No one should begrudge the ability of all Americans to fully participate in
our democracy," said Donnelly. "Yet we should recognize that those with the
ability to make large donations have more say over what happens in Washington,
D.C. That is precisely what is happening here. And that is precisely why we
need Congress to pass the Fair Elections Now Act."
The bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826 and S. 752), introduced by
House Democratic Caucus Chair John Larson (D-Conn.) and Assistant Senate
Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), would reduce the fundraising pressures
on members of Congress. The bill would allow candidates to voluntarily opt out
of the escalating fundraising race and run vigorous campaigns relying on small
contributions and limited public funding.
The full report is available online at http://www.publicampaign.org/cuba.
Based in Washington, D.C., Public Campaign is a national nonprofit
organization dedicated to advancing comprehensive reform of America's election
laws.
SOURCE Public Campaign Action Fund
Rick Bielke of the Public Campaign Action Fund, +1-202-293-0222 ext. 12
