Senate GOP: Trial Lawyers Dump Cash
From Oklahoma Senate Republicans ~ According to Oklahoma Ethics Commission filings, Democrat State Senator Nancy Riley has received 90% of her financial support over the past two months from trial attorneys, trial attorney/workers comp attorney PACs, and out of state unions including the Teamsters.
Keith Erwin of Lawton boasts similar largesse, and Senator Richard Lerblance has tossed a cool $130,000 of his own cash into his race in SE Oklahoma so far, adding $80,000 this past weekend. Candidates Diane Drum and Robert Murphy are also beneficiaries of trial lawyer and union generosity.
"Don't believe it? The numbers and their own campaign finance reports tell the story in black, white and green," said Randy Swanson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican State Senatorial Committee. "The Democrats are withdrawing money from their special interests like it was an ATM with no limit. The voters of these districts deserve to know to whom their candidates are beholden.
"They won't tell you, so we will," he continued.
The following figures come from candidate filings with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission for the period of August 12 - October 20, 2008, and their 24-hour last minute contribution filings since October 21:
Nancy Riley/$enate District 37: Since August 12, Riley has raised $181,254 from individuals. Of that figure, $158,254 -- 87.3% -- has come from trial attorneys and worker's compensation PACs. In one day, October 23 -- Riley received $37,500 from eight PACs funded by worker's compensation attorneys and their allies.
In addition, Riley has raised $50,800 from liberal union PACs, including $5000 from the Teamsters Union DRIVE PAC, on October 27. The Teamsters also support Nancy Pelosi and the US House Democrats and are working to elect Barack Obama.
Keith Erwin/$enate District 31: Trial attorneys have contributed $147,700 (82.9%) of Erwin's funding since August 12. Overall, this interest group accounts for 60.7% of Erwin's total receipts. He has received $18,400 from labor unions.
Richard Lerblance/$enate District 7: Since August 12, Lerblance has received $98,000 of $139,440 from identified attorneys, or 70.3%. Some known attorneys identified themselves as "Businessman" (Terry West), and "Consultant", (Mike Turpen). In 2008, he has received 65.1% of his funding from attorneys. In addition, Lerblance received $11,250 from labor unions this reporting period. On Friday, October 24, Lerblance infused $80,000 of his own money into his race. His personal contributions for the campaign is now $130,000. Think about that...Democrats are fighting to retain a Senate seat in McALESTER, OKLAHOMA. In the history of this state, Democrats haven't had to get out of bed to win in McAlester.
Diane Drum/$enate District 15: In the first three quarters of 2008, Diane Drum of Norman raised $74,485 from individuals of which $56,115 came from lawyers, most of whom live outside Norman and Cleveland County, accounting for 75.3% of her financial receipts in the first three reporting periods of 2008. In the August - October reporting period and in last-minute contributions, she received $25,500 from worker's compensation PACs, $1,250 from labor unions, and $200 from the Sierra Club.
Robert Murphy/$enate District 21: In his first Ethics filing in July, former judge Robert Murphy of Stillwater reported raising $51,600 from individuals, of which $35,900 – 69.6% -- came from lawyers, most from outside of Stillwater or Payne County. In the latest filing, Murphy reports $20,050 (49.6%) from attorneys. But his most loyal contributor base includes 36 contributions totaling $7,455 from those with the occupation known as INFORMATION REQUESTED.
"The voters of these Senate districts should ask themselves, 'to whom is my Senator beholden?'" Swanson said. "Based on their fundraising figures, the above candidates clearly owe their allegiances to trial attorneys and liberal, often out-of-state labor unions, and will vote accordingly, against the best interests of their districts."
Keith Erwin of Lawton boasts similar largesse, and Senator Richard Lerblance has tossed a cool $130,000 of his own cash into his race in SE Oklahoma so far, adding $80,000 this past weekend. Candidates Diane Drum and Robert Murphy are also beneficiaries of trial lawyer and union generosity.
"Don't believe it? The numbers and their own campaign finance reports tell the story in black, white and green," said Randy Swanson, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican State Senatorial Committee. "The Democrats are withdrawing money from their special interests like it was an ATM with no limit. The voters of these districts deserve to know to whom their candidates are beholden.
"They won't tell you, so we will," he continued.
The following figures come from candidate filings with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission for the period of August 12 - October 20, 2008, and their 24-hour last minute contribution filings since October 21:
Nancy Riley/$enate District 37: Since August 12, Riley has raised $181,254 from individuals. Of that figure, $158,254 -- 87.3% -- has come from trial attorneys and worker's compensation PACs. In one day, October 23 -- Riley received $37,500 from eight PACs funded by worker's compensation attorneys and their allies.
In addition, Riley has raised $50,800 from liberal union PACs, including $5000 from the Teamsters Union DRIVE PAC, on October 27. The Teamsters also support Nancy Pelosi and the US House Democrats and are working to elect Barack Obama.
Keith Erwin/$enate District 31: Trial attorneys have contributed $147,700 (82.9%) of Erwin's funding since August 12. Overall, this interest group accounts for 60.7% of Erwin's total receipts. He has received $18,400 from labor unions.
Richard Lerblance/$enate District 7: Since August 12, Lerblance has received $98,000 of $139,440 from identified attorneys, or 70.3%. Some known attorneys identified themselves as "Businessman" (Terry West), and "Consultant", (Mike Turpen). In 2008, he has received 65.1% of his funding from attorneys. In addition, Lerblance received $11,250 from labor unions this reporting period. On Friday, October 24, Lerblance infused $80,000 of his own money into his race. His personal contributions for the campaign is now $130,000. Think about that...Democrats are fighting to retain a Senate seat in McALESTER, OKLAHOMA. In the history of this state, Democrats haven't had to get out of bed to win in McAlester.
Diane Drum/$enate District 15: In the first three quarters of 2008, Diane Drum of Norman raised $74,485 from individuals of which $56,115 came from lawyers, most of whom live outside Norman and Cleveland County, accounting for 75.3% of her financial receipts in the first three reporting periods of 2008. In the August - October reporting period and in last-minute contributions, she received $25,500 from worker's compensation PACs, $1,250 from labor unions, and $200 from the Sierra Club.
Robert Murphy/$enate District 21: In his first Ethics filing in July, former judge Robert Murphy of Stillwater reported raising $51,600 from individuals, of which $35,900 – 69.6% -- came from lawyers, most from outside of Stillwater or Payne County. In the latest filing, Murphy reports $20,050 (49.6%) from attorneys. But his most loyal contributor base includes 36 contributions totaling $7,455 from those with the occupation known as INFORMATION REQUESTED.
"The voters of these Senate districts should ask themselves, 'to whom is my Senator beholden?'" Swanson said. "Based on their fundraising figures, the above candidates clearly owe their allegiances to trial attorneys and liberal, often out-of-state labor unions, and will vote accordingly, against the best interests of their districts."
Labels: Diane Drum, Keith Erwin, Nancy Riley, Randy Swanson, Richard Lerblance, Robert Murphy, Senate Republicans, Trial Lawyers
posted by Mike McCarville @ 1:44 PM
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