Florida Consumer Action Network Foundation's

Florida Clean Elections Project
Post Office Box 301 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (850) 385-6160

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        Contact:   Stephen Thomas
                                                                                                                                        (850) 385-6160

Republicans Take In Seven Times More Anti-Environmental Money Than Democrats

What Will This Week’s Reports Show?

Tallahassee, FL  October 10, 2001

Thirteen months before Election Day 2002, Republican Party of Florida soft money contributions from anti-environmental corporations dwarf similar contributions to the Florida Democratic Party nearly seven to one.

According to Stephen Thomas, Research Director for the Florida Clean Elections Project, soft money is “anti-environmental” if it comes from an industry or industry representative that actively lobbies to remove or erode legislation and regulations that protect Florida’s natural environment.  “The 2002 races have hardly begun, but anti-environmental soft money has already begun to flow into party campaign coffers,” Thomas said. “These companies are paying for greater access to our politicians.  The Republican Party is in power statewide.  They get more anti-environmental money because they have the power to change laws and regulations that protect the environment on these companies’ behalf.  Considering the horrendous record on environmental legislation since the Republicans have been in control of the Executive and Legislative Branches, the arrangement seems to be working well.” 

According to the Florida Clean Elections Project, Florida Division of Elections data indicates that through the second quarterly reporting period, anti-environmental entities have contributed at least $1,016,715* to the Republican Party of Florida.  This includes $117,335 from farming and agricultural interests, notably $51,000 from A. Duda and Sons of Oviedo, Florida (Governor Bush appointed Emily Fleming Duda to the Florida State University Board of Trustees a few weeks after her husband’s company contributed a $50,000 check).  At a minimum, Builders, homebuilders and construction companies contributed $96,880; realtors and developers contributed $188,885; petroleum, chemical, mining and manufacturing firms contributed $151,240; the transportation industry has kicked in $160,495; utilities have contributed $167,660; beverage manufacturers, wholesalers and bottlers contributed $57,200; and waste management firms have contributed $17,020.

The Florida Democratic Party has received only $155,437 from anti-environmental sources, about fifteen percent of the Republican polluter war chest.  This includes at least $72,846 from utilities; $29,547 from realtors and developers; $20,515 from tourism interests; $8,200 from bottlers and beverage companies; $6,025 from farming and agriculture; $5,000 from waste management; $4,300 from petroleum, chemical, mining and manufacturing; $3902 from building and construction; and $2,600 from transportation.

“Big campaign contributions from special interests are already toxic to our democracy, automatically giving those with money greater access to the political process than those who cannot afford to pay to play,” added Nancy Brown, President of the Florida League of Conservation Voters. “Anti-environmental soft money is doubly toxic because it comes with the expectation that the parties that accept it will do their bidding with laws and regulations that allow them to get away with destroying our environment.”

Anti-environmental soft money contributions will undoubtedly soar in the coming months.  The next campaign finance reporting period ended September 30, with Third Quarter Reports due to the Division of Elections on October 10, 2001. 

The Florida Clean Elections Project is an affiliate project of the Florida Consumer Action Network Foundation (FCAN Foundation) that is working to educate voters about campaign finance abuses.