Big Tobacco Makes Campaign Donations in Oregon
Democrats Peter Courtney and Betsy Johnson, along with a handful of Republicans accepted over $26,000 is campaign donations from Big Tobacco so far in October. Courtney ( D Salem )is currently the President of the Oregon Senate, while Betsy Johnson is Oregon Senate Democrat from Scappoose. Besides Courtney and Johnson, 10 Oregon republicans and The Leadership Fund to took campaign donations from Altria Client Services in October. The Leadership Fund is the fundraising PAC for Republicans in the Oregon Senate.
This is not the first time Courtney, or other Oregon Democrats, have received campaign donation from Big Tobacco. The independent politics blog Oregon Outpost chronicled a long list of Oregon politicians taking tobacco money.
Altria Client Services is a part of Altria, formerly known as Phillip Morris, producers of Marlboro brand cigarettes
Altria has given $3.1 million in campaign donations to Oregon candidates and groups since 2007. The majority of that, $2.6 million, was part of campaign to defeat Measure 50 in 2007. The measure sought to increase taxes on a carton of cigarettes by $8.50. The funds raised from the tobacco tax would have been used to provide health insurance to needy children in Oregon. While Measure 50 started out with the support of 68% of voters, heavy spending by the tobacco companies led the the measure being defeated at the polls by wide margin.
FUTURE PAC, the main fundraising committee for Democrats in the Oregon House of Representatives took $10,000 from Altria ( formerly Phillip Morris Tobacco ). Tina Kotek, Speaker of the House and a Democrat representing NE Portland and Val Hoyle control FUTURE PAC. UPDATE — Val Hoyle is no longer directly affiliated with the FUTURE PAC. She has been replaced by Jennifer Williamson, Democrat from SW Portland.
Between 2012 and 2015, Democrat Peter Courtney has taken $32,000 in donation from Altria Client Services. While not the only democrat to receive donation from the tobacco company, he and Johnson are the first to do so in several years.
Republican Ted Ferrioli took $12,000 since 2012 and the Leadership Fund ( PAC for Republicans in the Oregon Senate ) took in $47,000.
According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 3.3 million packs of cigarettes are purchased by minors in Oregon each year. Health issues caused by smoking cost the avg Oregon taxpayer $780 per year.
List of Tobacco Donations for October 2015
Friends of Ted Ferrioli $2000 / Altria Client Services Inc.
The Leadership Fund $8000 / Altria Client Services LLC
Boquist Leadership Fund $1000 / Altria Client Services Inc.
John Davis For Oregon $1000 / Altria Client Services, Inc.
Peter Courtney for State Senate $5000 / Altria Client Services Inc.
Committee to Elect Doug Whitsett $1000 / Altria Client Services Inc
Friends of Lee Beyer $1000 / Altria Client Services, Inc.
Alan Olsen for Oregon Senate Committee $1000 / Altria Client Services, Inc.
Friends of Kim Thatcher $1000 / Altria Client Services
Committee to Re-Elect Greg Smith $1000 / Altria Client Services
Friends of Fred Girod $1000 / Altria Client Services
Committee to Elect Betsy Johnson $2000 / Altria Client Services Inc.
Tim Knopp for State Senate $1000 / Altria Client Services Inc.
