Under
the Influence:
A compilation of Alcoholic-Beverage Industry Political Contributions to Members of the
Appropriations Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1997-1998
Introduction
While few in politics claim that political contributions "buy" votes, almost
everyone would agree that political contributions create access for the donor to express
his or her ideas to a politician, and they often help produce an "open mind"
that is conducive to a sympathetic understanding of the donor's views.
The House Appropriations Committee will soon consider
subcommittee-passed language that would permit the Office of National Drug Control Policy
and the "Drug Czar," General Barry McCaffrey, to begin the careful process of
adding underage-drinking prevention messages to the other drug prevention messages in the
"National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign." That language was added in an
amendment sponsored by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Congressman Frank
Wolf (R-VA), who were responding to the March 25, 1999 testimony of General McCaffrey that
his office lacked the necessary statutory authority to include underage drinking
prevention messages in the media campaign.
The Roybal-Allard/Wolf provision is opposed by the
alcoholic-beverage industry, whose forces are led by the National Beer Wholesalers
Association and include the Wine Institute, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United
States, and various individual alcohol producers. Congresswoman Anne Northup (R-KY) has
announced her intention to offer an amendment before the full Appropriations Committee
that would delete the Roybal-Allard/Wolf provision and continue to bar ONDCP from
undertaking even preparatory work to begin developing underage-drinking prevention
messages.
The alcoholic-beverage industry has been a major campaign
contributor to some of the members of the Appropriations Committee. CSPI has compiled
information on campaign contributions to that committee based on Federal Election
Commission records reported on the Internet by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Alcohol-Industry Contributions
The alcoholic-beverage industry contributed a total of $294,690 to members of the House
Appropriations Committee during the last election cycle (See Tables 3A and 3B). On
average, members of the committee received $4,829 from alcoholic-beverage industry sources
during the 1997-98 time period. Congresswoman Anne Northup received by far the most:
$38,264 (See Table 1). That was 1.8 times as much alcohol industry money as the second
highest recipient, and 13% of the contributions to the entire 61-member Appropriations
Committee by alcoholic-beverage sources. Her contributions included $10,000 from the
National Beer Wholesalers Association, $1,614 from the Distilled Spirits Council of the
United States, as well as $10,000 from the Kentucky-based Brown-Forman Corporation (maker
of such liquor brands as Jack Daniels, Southern Comfort, Early Times Kentucky Whiskey, as
well as Fetzer and Korbel wines).
Table 1
Alcoholic-beverage Industry Contributions to Congresswoman Anne Northup (1997-98)
Anne Meagher Northup (KY) |
TOTAL $38,264 |
Individuals from the alcohol industry |
$10,150 |
Brown-Forman Corp. |
$10,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$10,000 |
Distilled Spirits Council |
$1,614 |
National Association of Beverage
Retailers |
$1,500 |
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of
America |
$1,500 |
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine |
$1,000 |
Jim Beam Brands |
$1,000 |
Coors Brewing |
$500 |
Heublein Distributors |
$500 |
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons |
$500 |
Three of the eight top recipients of alcoholic-beverage
industry money (including Rep. Northup) are members of the Treasury, Postal and General
Government Appropriations subcommittee, which approved the Roybal-Allard provision during
the May 14 committee markup of the Fiscal 2000 appropriations measure (See Table 2). Rep.
Northup was absent for the vote, while the other two major recipients [Chairman Jim Kolbe
(R-AZ) and Rep. Michael Forbes (R-NY)] opposed the effort to allow ONDCP to combat
underage drinking.
Table 2
Top Recipients of Alcohol Industry Contributions -- House Appropriations Committee
Member Name |
Total Contribution |
Anne Meagher Northup
(R-KY) |
$38,264 |
Allen Boyd (D-FL) |
$21,500 |
Michael P. Forbes
(R-NY) |
$19,250 |
Tom DeLay (R-TX) |
$19,000 |
Kay Granger (R-TX) |
$15,250 |
Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) |
$13,000 |
Henry Bonilla (R-TX) |
$11,500 |
George R. Nethercutt
(R-WA) |
$11,250 |
Alcohol-Industry
Contributions to House Appropriations Committee
Table 3A - Republican Members
Member
|
Total
ETOH |
Company |
Amount
of Contribution |
Robert Aderholt (AL) |
$9,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$9,500 |
Henry
Bonilla (TX) |
$11,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$4,000 |
Phillip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$3,500 |
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of
America |
$1,500 |
Coors Brewing |
$1,000 |
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine |
$500 |
Distilled Spirits Council |
$500 |
Heublein Inc. |
$500 |
Sonny Callahan (AL) |
$500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$500 |
Randy
Cunningham (CA) |
$2,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$1,000 |
Tom DeLay
(TX) |
$19,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$8,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$4,000 |
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of
America |
$4,000 |
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons |
$2,000 |
Heublein Distributors |
$1,000 |
Jay Dickey (AR) |
$0 |
Does not accept PAC
money |
Jo Ann
Emerson (MO) |
$8,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$7,500 |
Coors Brewing |
$500 |
Michael P.
Forbes (NY) |
$19,250 |
Individuals from the alcohol industry |
$6,250 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$5,500 |
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine |
$1,000 |
Canandaigua Wine |
$1,000 |
Distilled Spirits Council |
$1,000 |
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons |
$1,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,000 |
Brown-Forman |
$500 |
Heublein Distributors |
$500 |
Heublein Inc. |
$500 |
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of
America |
$500 |
Wine Institute |
$500 |
Rodney Frelinghuysen
(NJ) |
$1,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$1,000 |
Kay Granger
(TX) |
$15,250 |
Individuals from the
alcohol industry |
$10,250 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$4,000 |
Coors Brewing |
$1,000 |
David
Hobson (OH) |
$3,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller
Brewing) |
$2,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$1,000 |
Ernest
Istook (OK) |
$2,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$1,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller
Brewing) |
$500 |
Jack
Kingston (GA) |
$2,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller
Brewing) |
$2,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$500 |
Joe
Knollenberg (MI) |
$1,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$1,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller
Brewing) |
$500 |
Jim Kolbe
(AZ) |
$13,000 |
Individuals from the
alcohol industry |
$5,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller
Brewing) |
$2,000 |
Wine & Spirits
Wholesalers of America |
$2,000 |
Anheuser-Busch |
$1,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$1,000 |
Coors Brewing |
$500 |
Heublein Inc. |
$500 |
Wine Institute |
$500 |
Tom
Latham (IA) |
$11,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller
Brewing) |
$6,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$3,000 |
Wine & Spirits
Wholesalers of America |
$1,000 |
Allied Domecq Spirits
& Wine |
$500 |
Heublein |
$500 |
Jerry Lewis
(CA) |
$9,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$4,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller
Brewing) |
$2,500 |
Wine Institute |
$1,500 |
Coors Brewing |
$1,000 |
Dan Miller
(FL) |
$2,000 |
Joseph E. Seagram &
Sons |
$1,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers
Association |
$1,000 |
George R.
Nethercutt (WA) |
$11,250 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$10,000 |
Coors Brewing |
$1,000 |
Individuals from the alcohol Industry |
$250 |
Anne
Meagher Northup (KY) |
$38,264 |
Individuals from the alcohol industry |
$10,150 |
Brown-Forman Corp. |
$10,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$10,000 |
Distilled Spirits Council |
$1,614 |
National Association of Beverage
Retailers |
$1,500 |
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of
America |
$1,500 |
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine |
$1,000 |
Jim Beam Brands |
$1,000 |
Coors Brewing |
$500 |
Heublein Distributors |
$500 |
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons |
$500 |
Ron Packard
(CA) |
$3,500 |
Wine Institute |
$1,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,000 |
Individuals from the alcohol industry |
$1,000 |
John E. Peterson (PA) |
$1,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,000 |
John Edward Porter (IL) |
$500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$500 |
Ralph Regula (OH) |
$0 |
Does not accept PAC
money |
Harold
Rogers (KY) |
$7,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$2,000 |
Allied Domecq Spirits & Wine |
$1,000 |
Brown-Forman Corp. |
$1,000 |
Heublein Distributors |
$1,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,000 |
Distilled Spirits Council |
$500 |
Jim Beam Brands |
$500 |
Joe Skeen
(NM) |
$2,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,000 |
Anheuser-Busch |
$500 |
Stimson Lane Ltd |
$500 |
John E. Sununu (NH) |
$5,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$5,000 |
Charles H.
Taylor |
$5,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$3,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$2,000 |
Todd
Tiahrt (KS) |
$8,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$6,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$2,500 |
James T.
Walsh (NY) |
$4,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$2,000 |
Canadaigua Wine |
$1,500 |
Robert Mondavi Corp. |
$500 |
Zach Wamp (TN) |
$0 |
Does not accept PAC
money |
Roger F.
Wicker (MS) |
$5,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$2,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,500 |
Coors Brewing |
$1,000 |
Frank R. Wolf (VA) |
$0 |
No donations from
alcohol industry PAC's |
Bill Young (FL) |
$1,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,000 |
Source: Center for Responsive Politics
Table 3B - Democratic
Members
Member |
Total |
Company |
Amount
of Contribution |
Allen Boyd
(FL) |
$21,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$15,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$6,000 |
Individuals from the alcohol industry |
$500 |
James E.
Clyburn (SC) |
$4,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$3,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$500 |
Bud Cramer
(AL) |
$3,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$2,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$1,000 |
Norman Dicks (WA) |
$0 |
No
donations from alcohol industry PAC's |
Julian C. Dixon (CA) |
$0 |
No
donations from alcohol industry PAC's |
Chet
Edwards (TX) |
$2,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$1,500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$1,000 |
Sam Farr
(CA) |
$4,500 |
Individuals from the alcohol industry |
$3,000 |
Brown-Forman |
$500 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$500 |
Wine Institute |
$500 |
Maurice D. Hinchey (NY) |
$0 |
No donations from
alcohol industry PAC's |
Steny H.
Hoyer (MD) |
$9,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$3,500 |
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of
America |
$2,500 |
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons |
$1,000 |
Wine Institute |
$1,000 |
Anheuser-Busch |
$500 |
Distilled Spirits Council |
$500 |
Heublein Inc. |
$500 |
Jesse
Jackson Jr. (IL) |
$3,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$3,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$500 |
Marcy Kaptur (OH) |
$0 |
No donations from
alcohol industry PAC's |
Carolyn Cheeks
Kilpatrick (MI) |
$1,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$1,000 |
Nita M. Lowey (NY) |
$0 |
No donations from
alcohol industry PAC's |
Carrie P.
Meek (FL) |
$1,496 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$1,000 |
Distilled Spirits Council |
$496 |
Alan B.
Mollohan (WV) |
$2,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$2,000 |
National Beer Wholesaler Association |
$500 |
James P. Moran (VA) |
$0 |
No donations from
alcohol industry PAC's |
John P.
Murtha (PA) |
$3,000 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$2,000 |
Anheuser-Busch |
$1,000 |
David Obey
(WI) |
$3,000 |
National Beer Wholesalers of America |
$1,000 |
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of
America |
$1,000 |
Southern Wine & Spirits |
$500 |
Wine Institute |
$500 |
John W. Olver (MA) |
$0 |
No donations from
alcohol industry PAC's |
Ed Pastor
(AZ) |
$1,350 |
Miller Brewing |
$1,000 |
Anheuser Busch |
$350 |
Nancy
Pelosi (CA) |
$5,500 |
Wine Institute |
$5,000 |
Joseph E. Seagram & Sons |
$500 |
David E.
Price (NC) |
$5,500 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$4,500 |
National Beer Wholesaler Association |
$1,000 |
Lucille
Roybal-Allard (CA) |
$0 |
No
donations from alcohol industry PAC's |
Martin Olav Sabo (MN) |
$0 |
No
donations from alcohol industry PAC's |
Jose E. Serrano (NY) |
$0 |
No
donations from alcohol industry PAC's |
Peter J. Visclosky (IN) |
$250 |
National Association of Beverage
Retailers |
$250 |
Source: Center for Responsive Politics
Table 4
Total Alcohol Industry Political Contributions to House Appropriations Members
| |
Total Contributions |
Average Contribution |
All Committee Members |
$294,610 |
$4,830 |
Republicans |
$222,014 |
$6,530 |
Democrats |
$72,596 |
$2,689 |
Source: Center for Responsive Politics
In several respects, this compilation of
alcoholic-beverage political contributions to the House Appropriations Committee
underestimates the financial -- and other -- influence that industry may have on members
of Congress and on the political process. It reflects just the tip of the iceberg.
In addition to direct contributions to members of the
Appropriations committee, the alcoholic- beverage industry makes indirect contributions of
several types. Alcohol producers and trade associations often provide free or discounted
alcoholic-beverages for fundraisers and other events held by, for, or on behalf of,
members of Congress. Beer and wine tasting on Capitol Hill are among the most popular
social events for many members and their staffs. Those donations are often not reflected
in the FEC reports.
Industry representatives also provide other important
adjunct fundraising assistance. For example, as reported in The Washington Post on
Wednesday, June 9, 1999, the National Beer Wholesalers Association and the Wine and
Spirits Wholesalers of America hosted a breakfast fundraiser for Senator Orrin G. Hatch
(R-Utah) as a way of expressing appreciation of his efforts in leading Senate opposition
to Internet alcohol sales. At such an event, many of the actual contributions come from
sources other than the alcoholic-beverage industry, but the sponsors certainly score
political points for making the arrangements.
Finally, major PACs such as the National Beer
Wholesalers Association make large contributions to campaign organizations and
congressional leadership PACs, in addition to direct contributions to members.
Alcoholic-beverage interests also provide substantial support to both national political
parties through "soft-money" contributions. The largest "soft-money"
giver during the last election cycle was Philip Morris (which owns Miller Brewing), which
gave $2,446,316 to the two national parties. Joseph E. Seagram & Sons gave $753,846
and Anheuser-Busch, the world's largest brewer, gave $501,907 in soft money during the
1997-98 election cycle. Those contributions may appear somewhat remote from the individual
votes of members of the Appropriations committee, but they may influence the direction
congressional leadership provides to members of their parties.
Table 5
Five Largest Alcohol-Industry PAC contributors to Members
of the House Appropriations Committee
PAC
Name |
Total
Contributed |
Number
members receiving money |
National Beer Wholesalers Association |
$ 99,500 |
37 |
Philip Morris (Miller Brewing) |
$83,000 |
28 |
Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America |
$14,000 |
8 |
Brown-Forman Corporation |
$12,000 |
4 |
The Wine Institute |
$11,000 |
8 |
|
