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Politicians "bought" by Enron

This list was developed from information found in The Los Angeles Times, CBS's 60 Minutes, and various Internet sources. It is NOT complete: it doesn't necessarily include all politicians who received money from Enron sources, then lost their elections, and it does not include most state officials such as governors, legislators, or mayors. The amounts listed are totals from corporate giving by Enron executives, their spouses, and others associated with Enron and their various subdivisions and corporate shells.

By giving campaign contributions to candidates, a company does not need to get quid pro quo benefits. Money gains them access, a favorable impression, and (at the least) the benefit of doubt when business irregularities occur. Enron, as everyone now knows, was fraught with business irregularities, fraud, and criminal activities. The big question is: how much of this rubbed off onto its political friends?

For example, the official United Stares Energy Policy was set by Vice President Cheney in secret consultation with unidentified corporate officials in various energy-related businesses. How much of the official policy was directly written by Enron officials? Did the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Enron gave to Bush and Cheney buy them the power to dictate official US policy? We don't know because Cheney continues to refuse to make the records public. What is Cheney hiding?

In California there was a huge energy crisis last year, and one of the corporations in the thick of it was Enron. Governor Gray Davis negotiated long-term energy deals, spending huge amounts of money. The state went from a comfortable surplus to deficit spending because of the energy debacle. However, Enron was also a very large contributor to Davis' election coffers. What effect did Enron's campaign contributions have?

When we have corporate money mixing with the political decision-making process, the aroma is often that of hydrogen sulfide. The list of politicians taking money from Enron is very long. It includes all of the Senators and US Representatives from New Hampshire. (Highlighted below in red.) Why is a Texas energy company giving money to New Hampshire politicians? Can there be an answer other than to buy influence?

Ask yourself, who has more influence, you the lowly voter, or the corporate official with a thick check book? In a democratic society the people are supposed to be the masters, not the corporations.

There have been a number of variations of campaign finance reform proposed, some potentially effective, some mere window dressing. Here is one reform that we would like to see enacted:

No candidate for public office in these United States may accept any donation of money, material, or services from any person who is not eligible to vote for the candidate.

Any candidate found by a court of law to have accepted such money, material, or services shall be jailed for a period of not less than 30 days, nor more than 366 days per violation.

Any person found by a court of law to have made an illegal donation of money, material, or services to a candidate shall be jailed for exactly the same period of time as the candidate.

Corporations can not vote, so corporations can not make campaign donations; people who live in Texas can not vote for New Hampshire Senators or Representatives, so they can't make donations to them.

Below is a list of politicians and the donations made to them by Enron. It is in alphabetical order so that you can look up your favorite politicians.

NOTES:

-----This list is current as of November, 2001. There are reports saying that a number of politicians have recently tried to give back their Enron funds, or have said that they would donate that money to charity.

(1) Got $1,000 in the 1999-2000 period; returned $1,000 in the 2001-2002 period.

(2) Covers both the period as Governor of Texas and President of the United States; includes both Bush and Cheney.

(3) Check returned; official record not updated as of the time of this list.

(4) Ran for office; lost.

UPDATES

It is reported that the Government Accounting Office (GAO) will sue the Bush White House to force the disclosure of Cheney's secret Energy Task Force notes.

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 Last revised: 2/7/02