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August 7, 2011

The Governor's Funders

Justin Katz

No doubt, all but the most underdog victors of high-profile political campaigns will have similar lists of interested campaign donors (and whether they are evil sneaks or righteous activists is mainly a matter of perspective), but it's always good to know whose calls Governor Chafee is likely to take:

They included: Democratic Sen. Frank Ciccone ($250), a top official in the Rhode Island Laborers District Council; former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino ($500); one-time Senate Majority Leader John Revens ($250); long-time Democratic political consultant William Fischer ($750) , whose firm did work on his fundraising invitation; former state GOP chairman John Holmes ($250); former West Warwick mayor and casino promoter J. Michael Levesque, now working for O. Ahlborg and Sons ($1,000), and former Harrah's casino lobbyist Terence Fracassa ($750) who, more recently, has been involved in efforts to open Rhode Island's first medical-marijuana dispensary.

The list also included a number of past and present applicants for judgeships, state contractors and lobbyists.

Almost one out of every $5 he raised came from the political-action committees. The majority have union ties, including: the Central Falls Teachers Union ($250), IBEW Local 99 PAC ($250), the International Union of Painters ($500), Iron Workers Local 37 ($250), IUOE Local 57 ($500), the Lincoln Teachers Association ($250), Local 2881 PAC ($500), the Rhode Island AFL CIO PAC ($500), the Brotherhood of Correctional Officers ($1,000), the RI Federation of Teachers COPE ($500), RI Public Employees Education ($250), the RI Troopers Association ($1,000), the RI chapter of the United Auto Workers ($1,000), and United Nurses and Allied Professionals ( $500).

Comments

It's going to be funny that all the millions of dollars in bribes that "da unions" have paid out over the years are going to be as good an investment as old GM stock when the tap runs dry and someone (bankruptcy judge, receiver, new legislature or whoever) guts those pensions.
No, it won't happen in 8 weeks from Saint Gina but happen it will.

Posted by: Tommy Cranston at August 7, 2011 3:34 PM

They must all just really believe in the Governor. I'm sure they don't want anything in return, that would be unethical.

Posted by: Dan at August 7, 2011 4:08 PM

Color Justin green. Green with envy. One of the deadly sins. Comes up here at AR quite a bit. It is a nice color. except when it is a poison.. Dan comes to mind.. as does ANTHONY and George Elbow

Posted by: David S at August 7, 2011 8:12 PM

"Envy," that's a new one. I'm as envious of Chafee as I am of anybody who was born into wealth or political power. Which is not very, because I've met a lot of truly miserable and pitiful individuals with that life since I moved to DC. When you are invited into their houses, most of the stuff in there is just that - stuff. Kids effectively raised by "the help" is a particularly heart-wrenching thing to witness.

Interesting that Rhode Island pay-to-play is a big joke to you, David, thought you were a better "progressive" than that. Let's see if it's a joke to you when your Roger Williams or New England Law judge, coincidentally a top donor to the Governor's campaign, doesn't know what a bailment is and has a pretty good grasp of half of the hearsay exceptions.

Posted by: Dan at August 8, 2011 8:07 AM

One out of five dollars contributed by "da unions," means four out of five dollars is contributed by "not da unions," Tommy.

Posted by: michael at August 8, 2011 8:25 AM