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Big Tobacco Gave More Than $1.3 Million in Political Contributions in 2003 [02/17-5]

Excerpts from: Tobacco Industry Gave More Than $1.3 Million in Federal Political Contributions in 2003

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids [02/17/04]

The tobacco industry made more than $1.3 million in political contributions to federal candidates, political parties and political committees so far in the 2003-2004 election cycle, according to a quarterly report issued today by the Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund and Common Cause.

The report details how political contributions continue to correlate with lawmakers' support of legislation opposed by the public health community that would provide for weak regulation of tobacco products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Since 1997, the tobacco industry has contributed more than $27 million, including $16.8 million in soft money and more than $10 million in Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions. Since 1999, the four largest cigarette companies have also spent more than $81 million on lobbying the U.S. Congress.

The report details tobacco industry contributions so far during the 2003-2004 election cycle:

• Tobacco company PACs donated $764,500 directly to federal candidates, with 71 percent ($544,000) of the total donations going to Republican candidates and 29 percent ($220,500) going to Democratic candidates.
  
• Tobacco PACs have donated over $623,000 to non-candidate committees, including Democratic and Republican party committees and leadership PACs established by individual members of Congress. Of the total, $466,499 (75 percent) went to the Republicans, $115,500 (18 percent) to the Democrats and $41,970 (7 percent) to non-party committees.
  
  

Click here to here to view the entire report from The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (PDF format)

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