Prometheus 6

None of this is to say business has changed sides. It continues to give far more to Republicans than to Democrats. And the major groups representing the business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are working hard to protect the GOP majorities in Congress.

Moreover, many business groups seek to play down their campaign contributions to the other side. New York Life spokesman William Werfel said that his company's PAC was giving more in general this cycle and that the GOP still got the most.

But as storm clouds gathered over the GOP this election season, business leaders, lobbyists and PACs quietly began to take out a form of political insurance — contributing more to Democrats who, if they become the majority party, will wield power over issues affecting business' bottom line.

Business groups woo Democrats
Campaign contributions rise for lawmakers who might hold leadership positions after Nov. 7.
By Richard Simon
Times Staff Writer
October 27, 2006

"Some people have discovered virtues in me that they had previously overlooked," Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, who stands to become chairman of the Financial Services Committee if Democrats control the House, mused recently. "The prospect of the chairmanship seems to have been a very good introduction."

Frank was referring to a surge in campaign contributions from pro-business groups — groups whose members would have to deal with the liberal Democrat instead of a probably-more-congenial Republican. (Rep. Michael G. Oxley, the Ohio Republican who now heads the committee, is retiring after this term.)

Issues involving the financial services industry fall under the committee's jurisdiction. And the New York Life Insurance Co.'s political action committee has contributed $10,000 to Frank this election season, up from $1,000 in the 2003-'04 cycle, according to PoliticalMoneyLine, which tracks political donations. The National Assn. of Insurance and Financial Advisors PAC contributed $10,000 to Frank this election season, up from $3,000 in the last cycle.

Frank is not alone. As prospects appear to grow that Republicans will lose control of the House and perhaps even the Senate, business groups, trade associations, and their lobbyists and political advisors have developed a sudden enthusiasm for contributing to Democrats — especially to those likely to be in the House leadership or to head important committees if Republicans lose their majorities.

Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), for example, would chair the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in a Democratic-run House, and he has begun hearing from groups he says had not called since the Republicans won control of the House in 1994.

"I don't think meeting with the chairman of General Electric has anything to do with my taking over Ways and Means; I just never realized how much they loved me," Rangel joked.

In this election cycle, the congressman has raised $17,000 from General Electric's political action committee for his campaign and his leadership PAC, which provides campaign funds for other Democrats. That's more than twice what he collected the previous cycle, according to PoliticalMoneyLine.

None of this is to say business has changed sides. It continues to give far more to Republicans than to Democrats. And the major groups representing the business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, are working hard to protect the GOP majorities in Congress.

Moreover, many business groups seek to play down their campaign contributions to the other side. New York Life spokesman William Werfel said that his company's PAC was giving more in general this cycle and that the GOP still got the most.

But as storm clouds gathered over the GOP this election season, business leaders, lobbyists and PACs quietly began to take out a form of political insurance — contributing more to Democrats who, if they become the majority party, will wield power over issues affecting business' bottom line.

"All of the Democratic ranking members have seen an increase in attentiveness to their fundraising…. There has definitely been an increase in people paying attention to the ranking members in particular," a House Democratic aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for members.