Stealthy wealthy: How Harold Simmons’ political giving has benefited his business empire – Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group

I no sooner post about a curious super PAC donor then I see how one really rich guy can wage war against what he sees as an injustice to the social order and get his way.  Even though I disagree viscerally, I don’t have a billion dollars to counter his efforts.

I will quote at length from the article,  Stealthy wealthy: How

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

arold Simmons’ political giving has benefited his business empire – Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group, for it sums the situation up neatly.  Bill Allison writes:

In Texas, Simmons has contributed to limit the ability of plaintiffs to sue. Among the larger recipients of his largesse is the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, which in May 2011 celebrated Gov. Rick Perry’s signing of a bill it lobbied for that contains provisions–including requiring plaintiffs in tort cases that lose to pay the fees of those they sued–long sought after by business interests. Simmons gave the group $1.9 million between 2000 and 2011. Perry has gotten more than $1.3 million in support from Simmons in his gubernatorial and presidential runs. Simmons also contributed $100,000 to the Yes on 12 campaign, a ballot referendum that allowed the Texas legislature to cap damage awards for pain and suffering in lawsuits against medical providers; Texas voters approved the ballot initiative in 2003. (emphasis added)

Under the guise of being pro-business (which is code for anti-individual), such social engineering is achieved through the judicious use of large amounts of cash.

While his harm is in Texas, and, arguably, the citizenship voted it in (the citizenry often votes against its own self interest), such activity occurs in Michigan.  Lower the dollar amounts and focus attention on electing the Supreme Court judges, and the mechanism is the same.

Related articles

• CREW: Billionaire Harold Simmons Donations Go Beyond Super PACS (gloucestercitynews.net)
• Super PACs got 25% of their cash from just five donors (dailykos.com)
• Inside the super PACs money deluge (cbsnews.com)
• Texas Billionaire Donates Across Republican Field (blogs.wsj.com)
• The U.S. Billionaire Whose Stock Increased The Most In 2011 (forbes.com)
• Super PAC Sugar Daddies Spread Campaign Contributions Around At State Level, Too (jhaines6.wordpress.com)

Super PACs $500,000-Plus Donors Account For Majority Of Money

Super PACs $500,000-Plus Donors Account For Majority Of Money.

I was reading an article about the top 49 donors to Super PACs, seeing familiar and expected information.  49 donors have contributed $500,000 or more, making them the 1% of the current election cycle.  Again, expected and not surprising.

Then, as I was clicking through the slideshow of top donors (their pictures and a little blurb about who they are and to whom they contribute), when I came across slide number 5: Cooperative of American Physicians.  Let that sink in.  With the mega-rich donors (Harold Simmons from Dallas, funder of Swiftboat, giving to Romney; Sheldon Adelson prodding Newt Gingrich to the next state; etc.) and typical lobbying groups (AFL_CIO) appears an insurance company that specializes in medical malpractice coverage.  Interesting.

What interests a med mal insurance company in the Presidential Election to the point that they contribute $2,470,292 to their own super PAC?  In business, every investment demands a return, and this is a sizeable investment from a firm that supports, purportedly, a niche market.  The company states on its web site that it is physician owned and governed.  Its mission: “We support  and protect California’s finest physicians.”

“Support and protect” sounds like a security firm…which I guess it is.  By heading off potential litigation before it is able to come to verdict, the “finest physicians” need not worry about paying for mistakes.  Purchase access and influence to the lawmakers and erect enough barriers and hooks to dismissal, then litigation swings in favor to the Defendants.

Does the Cooperative of American Physicians wish to extend its reach outside of California?  Their name seems to indicate such, but the website lists only coverage for California physicians.  Their FAQ page may be found here.

2.4 million can buy a lot of law.

Related articles

• Jacob Sullum on Why Rich Super PAC Donors Are Good for Democracy (reason.com)
• 70% dislike super PACs, poll finds (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Super PACs got 25% of their cash from just five donors (dailykos.com)

Michlib Exclusive: Michigan Campaign Finance Network Exec. Dir. Rich Robinson (part 1 of 3)

Rich Robinson, over at the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, presents some important reasons why the money in judicial politics makes for interesting justice.

 

Buy yourself some influence…

Image via Wikipedia

How to buy the MI Courts is proud to say that we were here first.  Writing well into the first of this year, we called on readers to try their hand at purchasing access and influence.

Now the story has gone national.  NPR discusses, in not too great detail, the growing influence of money in court elections.

It is even worse than NPR knows.  They didn’t even scratch the surface.

Listen/read is here.

Supreme Court Ruling Constitutes Abuse of Democracy | DomeMagazine.com

Image via Wikipedia

When he mouthed, “Not True” during Obama’s State of the Union Address, Justice Alito, one of 5 to vote away funding caps by corporations, took a definate partisan stance.  Read more about the ruling here: Supreme Court Ruling Constitutes Abuse of Democracy | DomeMagazine.com.

Jesse M. Reiter: The Purchasing of Our State Supreme Courts: How Goliath is Beating David in Courtrooms Across America | BuzzFlash.org

Image via Wikipedia

Jesse M. Reiter: The Purchasing of Our State Supreme Courts: How Goliath is Beating David in Courtrooms Across America | BuzzFlash.org.

This incisive article begins by stating:

Over the last several election cycles, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its powerful corporate backers have been silently purchasing state Supreme Court seats across the country. As a result, many state supreme courts, which were once fair and neutral, now favor big business interests. This in turn has left average citizens without a voice in our court system and is making our system less democratic.

The Chamber’s state Supreme Court strategy is simple: “buying a new court… [is] far cheaper than changing the direction of fifty legislatures.” Since the Chamber understands that Americans would never willingly allow their rights to be openly eliminated, it is quietly pouring huge sums of money into formerly sedate and inexpensive judicial elections, effectively buying the state court systems where citizens’ rights are enforced.

I encourage you to read the article in its entirety.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Justice for sale (horsesass.org)
• Is the Chamber of Commerce Its Own Worst Enemy? (time.com)

Campaign Donors : Fundrace 2008 – Huffington Post

Image by permanently scatterbrained via Flickr

To begin a successful campaign to own the Michigan courts, one must find some money, if one is not already independently wealth.

Use this handy tool to locate which neighborhoods would be most amendable to your cause.

 

Campaign Donors : Fundrace 2008 – Huffington Post.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Supreme Court May Overturn Campaign Finance Laws (outsidethebeltway.com)