If money is power, the RGA is one of the big players on the field. It was sickening to see the size of contributions flowing through their organization for the quarter ending September 30th. Hedge fund managers, News Corp, oil companies, health
October 20, 2010

If money is power, the RGA is one of the big players on the field. It was sickening to see the size of contributions flowing through their organization for the quarter ending September 30th. Hedge fund managers, News Corp, oil companies, health providers...you name it, they brought it.

The list that follows comprises some of the biggest donors for the quarter, or in some cases, the year. When compiling this list, I didn't list the zillions who gave between $15,000 and $50,000, excluding them unless the year to date total was significant.

Perhaps it's because I have never found myself in a position to be able to dash off a check for $25,000-$50,000, but I was appalled. The amount of money flowing into and out of just this one organization for a midterm election with no Presidential or national campaigns is obscene. All I could think of as I was going through page after page of donors giving anywhere from $5,000 to over a million dollars was...imagine what good could be done with that kind of money.

And so, for your viewing pleasure and comment, here are the notable givers to Haley Barbour's Republican Governors' Association:

Big Kahuna Winner of them all

Michigan Chamber of Commerce: $3,825,000 Year to Date: $5,372,500

Million Dollar Boys' Club - Contributions of $1 million or more

  • Sheldon Adelson, Nevada Hotel Guy, neocon extraordinaire $1,000,000
  • Bob Perry, Texas Developer. Total this quarter: $3.5 million; Total year to date: $4 million
  • Paul Singer, Hedge Fund manager, Elliott Management Total this quarter: $1,509,899; Total year to date: 2,009,899

Half a million here, Half a million there - $500,000-$999,999

  • Steven Cohen, Hedge Fund manager, SAC Capital Advisors: $500,000
  • Devon Energy $500,000 Total year to date: $900,000
  • Anne Griffin, Aragon Global Management $500,000
  • Kenneth Griffin, Portfolio Manager, Citadel Group $500,000

In for a quarter (million); out for a dime - $250,000-$499,999

  • Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care, Inc. $250,000 (participating companies)
  • Farmers Insurance Exchange $250,000
  • Foster Friess $250,000 YTD: $350,000
  • Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: $381,000
  • Nextera Energy Resources, Inc. $250,000 YTD: $350,000
  • William Powers, Pacific Investment Management $250,000
  • News America, Inc. $250,000 YTD: $1,250,000
  • Robert and Patricia Kern 1992 Rev. Trust $250,000
  • Rooney Holdings, Inc. $250,000
  • United States Sugar Corporation: $250,000

Not-so-Honorable Mentions - notable donors giving $25,000-$249,999

  • Altria Client Services (formerly Philip Morris USA) - $150,000
  • American Natural Gas Alliance $100,000
  • Anheuser-Busch $75,000
  • Asness, Cliff $100,000 - AQR Capital Management
  • Automated Healthcare Solutions, LLC $100,000
  • James Bruner, President United Contractors Midwest $150,000
  • Chesapeake Operating, Inc. $225,000
  • Consol Energy Inc $150,000
  • Craig and Richard Duchossois, The Duchossois Group $225,000
  • Duke Energy $75,000 YTD $150,000
  • Philip Geier - Advisory Services $100,000 YTD: $200,000
  • General Electric Company $75,000 YTD: $180,000
  • Richard Hayne, Urban Outfitters, Inc $100,000
  • Hewlett Packard: $50,000 YTD: $150,900
  • Juno Investments, LLC: $100,000
  • William Koch, Oxbow Group (FL) $100,000
  • Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Co. $150,000
  • Lexington Management Group, Inc. $75,000 YTD: $175,000
  • MacAndrews and Forbes Group, LLC $100,000
  • Mass Mutual Life Insurance Co $50,000 YTD: $100,000
  • Encana Oil and Gas, Inc. $100,000
  • Energy Future Holding $50,000 YTD: $150,000
  • ETC Capital, LLC $200,000
  • Sean Feiler, Equinox Partners, LP $50,000 YTD $100,000
  • FirstEnergy $200,000 YTD: $450,000
  • Microsoft Corp $100,000
  • Peabody Investments Corp. $35,000 YTD: $155,000
  • Jonathan Pollock Elliott Management $100,000
  • The Chickasaw Nation $125,000
  • The Cypress Companies, Inc. $100,000
  • Travelers Indemnity Company $25,000 YTD: $225,000
  • Donald Trump: $50,000
  • United Healthcare: $25,000 YTD: $175,000
  • USAA: $100,000 YTD: $250,000
  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. $35,000 YTD: $200,000
  • Wellpoint, Inc. $50,000 YTD: $400,000
  • Waffle House, Inc. $125,000
  • Harrah's Operating Company $25,000 YTD: $95,277

As an added bonus, Think Progress helpfully lists those donors who attended the January, 2010 Koch Industries planning meeting for how to buy the midterms.

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