NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release:

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

For more information, contact:

Chloe Tribich, 212-206-9168 or 347-573-0773

Corporations, big-money donors dominate campaign fund-raising to

current state senators, group shows in review of 2011 and 2012 records
Forty-nine of New Yorks 62 senators get more than half their campaign cash
from combination of corporations and donors giving $1,000 or more
New York States current senators took in much more campaign cash from corporate and bigmoney donors than they received from small donors and unions during the 2011-2012 session,
according to a study by the Center for Working Families.
Corporate donations to current senators made up 45 percent of their campaign chests, while
donations of $1,000 or more from individuals made up another 24 percent, CWFs research
showed. Together, corporate and big-money donors gave 69 percent of all campaign
contributions, compared to 14.6 percent from unions.
With so much corporate cash, I wouldnt be surprised if we soon see corporate banners hanging
from the senate chamber rafters, said Dave Palmer, CWFs executive director.
The group released its study as part of the Fair Elections campaign, which is calling for state
campaign finance reform, including matching public donations. The Center for Working
Families is a non-partisan, independent think-and-do tank funded by foundations.
The CWF study reveals that from January 2011 to October 2012:

Overall, corporate donations to individual senators totaled more than $12.1 million over

this 22-month period.

Two-thirds of the dollar amount of contributions from individual donors totaled $1,000 or
more. These contributions totaled another $6.5 million.
The vast majority of senators49 altogetherreceived more than half their contributions
from corporations and these big-money donors.
Corporate donors heavily out-contributed unions ($3.9 million) by a three-to-one margin.
Only ten senators received more union than corporate dollars.
The center also compiled top-10 lists showing which senators took in the most and highest
percentage of corporate and big-donor money.

Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-9th District) took in the most corporate money

$979,443. Deputy Majority Leader Tom Libous (R-52nd) collected the second highest

total with $686,350, while Independent Democratic Caucus leader Jeffrey Klein (D-34th)
was third with $648,563.
Senator James Seward (R-51st) collected nearly three-quarters of his campaign chest from
corporations. Senator John DeFrancisco (R-50th) took in 65 percent of his total from
corporations, while Senator Catherine Young (R-57th) and three others collected more
than six of 10 campaign dollars from corporations.
Top 10
Total dollars of corporate
donors
Ran
Senator
Dollars
k
1
Skelos (R-9th)
$979,443

Top 10
Percentage of corporate
donors
Ra
Perce
Senator
nk
nt
1
Seward (R-51st)
74.0%
DeFrancisco (R2
64.8%
50th)
3
Young (R-57th)
63.9%

Libous (R-52nd)

$686,350

Klein (D-34th)

$648,563

$643,374

Martins (R-7th)

62.6%

$504,597

Nozzolio (R-54th)

62.4%

Golden (R-22nd)
Maziarz (R62nd)
Seward (R-51st)

$416,390

Adams (D-20th)

61.5%

Ball (R-40th)

$414,536

Little (R-45th)

59.2%

Zeldin (R-3rd)

$392,875

Flanagan (R-2nd)

58.7%

Martins (R-7th)
Kennedy (D58th)

$380,025

Skelos (R-9th)

57.0%

$371,828

10

Fuschillo (R-8th)

56.7%

10

The group also compiled top-10 lists showing which senators collected the most and highest
percentage of corporate and big-money donations.
Top 10
Total corporate dollars and
individual donors giving $1,000
or more
Ran
Senator
Dollars
k
$1,337,79
1
Skelos (R-9th)
3
$1,067,46
2
Klein (D-34th)
3
3
Libous (R-52nd)
$934,950

Top 10
Percentage of corporate
dollars and individuals giving
$1,000 or more
Ra
Perce
Senator
nk
nt
1

Hannon (R-6th)

Oppenheimer (D37th)
Storobin (R-27th)

86.4%
85.1%
83.4%

Golden (R-22nd)

$890,424

Klein (D-34th)

83.4%

Saland (R-41st)
Maziarz (R62nd)
Ball (R-40th)

$736,722

Sampson (D-19th)

82.0%

$714,568

Saland (R-41st)

80.9%

$685,865

Alesi (R-55th)

80.9%

6
7

8
9
10

Grisanti (R-60th)
McDonald (R43rd)
Kennedy (D58th)

$678,039

Ball (R-40th)

79.9%

$670,143

Seward (R-51st)

79.2%

$598,048

10

Skelos (R-9th)

77.9%

The senates current Republican leadership has said it would not support public funding of
elections; Democrats who led the chamber in 2009-2010 also did not pass reform legislation.
The report reviewed direct contributions to individual senators only, not party or political action
committees.
In a previous report, The Big Switch, CWF showed that corporate donors gave generously to
senators, based on who held the majority. In 2008, Republican senators in the majority collected
the bulk of corporation donations. But after taking control of the senate in 2009-2010, Democrats
got the bulk of corporate dollars. The report documented yet another switch in the direction of
contributions when the Republicans took over the chamber in 2011-August 2012; corporations
again sent more money their way.
If money talks, then its clear that corporate and wealthy donors are talking the loudest, Palmer
said. Average citizens have less chance to get their voice heard, making matches for small
donors essential.
Contributions analyzed are those available online from the New York State Board of Elections
as of November 8, 2012.

Corporate donationstotal dollars (overall:

$12,155,899)
Ran
Dolla
Ra
Dollar
Senator
Senator
k
rs
nk
s
1

Skelos (R-9th)

Libous (R-52nd)

Klein (D-34th)

Golden (R-22nd)

Maziarz (R-62nd)

Seward (R-51st)

Ball (R-40th)

Zeldin (R-3rd)

Martins (R-7th)

10

Kennedy (D-58th)

11

DeFrancisco (R50th)

12

Hannon (R-6th)

13

Fuschillo (R-8th)

14

Young (R-57th)

15

Gianaris (D-12th)

16

Grisanti (R-60th)

17

Nozzolio (R-54th)

18

Saland (R-41st)

19

Carlucci (D-38th)

20

Sampson (D-19th)

21

Bonacic (R-42nd)

22

Ranzenhofer (R61st)

23

Valesky (D-49th)

24

Breslin (D-46th)

25

Robach (R-56th)

26

Larkin (R-39th)

$979,44
3
$686,35
0
$648,56
3
$643,37
4
$504,59
7
$416,39
0
$414,53
6
$392,87
5
$380,02
5
$371,82
8
$349,24
9
$336,30
0
$306,88
4
$300,38
5
$262,90
0
$259,34
1
$257,07
5
$238,27
2
$221,46
4
$216,10
0
$213,56
5
$207,82
3
$200,32
1
$191,79
0
$172,60
0
$162,37
5

32

Gallivan (R-59th)

$134,088

33

Alesi (R-55th)

$131,750

34

Flanagan (R-2nd)

$126,787

35

Dilan (D-17th)

$122,050

36

Marcellino (R-5th)

$115,050

37

Stavisky (D-16th)

$108,300

38

Lanza (R-24th)

$104,275

39

Savino, Diane (D-23rd)

$96,425

40

Ritchie (R-48th)

$93,684

41

O'Mara (R-53rd)

$92,540

42

Peralta (D-13th)

$84,020

43

Parker (D-21st)

$78,245

44

Adams (D-20th)

$77,400

45

Hassell-Thompson (D36th)

$76,834

46

Rivera (D-33rd)

$74,600

47

Griffo (R-47th)

$73,305

48

Addabbo (D-15th)

$69,135

49

Farley (R-44th)

$68,630

50

Duane (D-29th)

$59,925

51

Espaillat (D-31st)

$57,600

52

Stewart-Cousins (D35th)

$50,135

53

Avella (D-11th)

$46,560

54

Krueger (D-26th)

$39,650

55

Johnson, Owen (R-4th)

$31,200

56

Huntley (D-10th)

$27,668

57

Oppenheimer (D-37th)

$14,550

27

Storobin (R-27th)

28

Little (R-45th)

29

Smith (D-14th)

30

LaValle (R-1st)

31

McDonald (R-43rd)

$152,09
0
$148,67
5
$148,30
0
$142,07
5
$134,93
0

58

Montgomery (D-18th)

$11,500

59

Serrano (D-28th)

$11,300

60

Perkins (D-20th)

$10,750

61

Diaz (D-32nd)

62

Squadron (D-25th)

$7,449
$0

Corporate donationsshare of total donations

(overall: 45.0%)
Ran
Perce
Ra
Perce
Senator
Senator
k
nt
nk
nt
1

Seward (R-51st)

74.0%

32

Storobin (R-27th)

47.1%

DeFrancisco (R50th)

64.8%

33

Robach (R-56th)

47.0%

Young (R-57th)

63.9%

34

Ritchie (R-48th)

43.4%

Martins (R-7th)

62.6%

35

Griffo (R-47th)

42.8%

Nozzolio (R-54th)

62.4%

36

O'Mara (R-53rd)

42.8%

Adams (D-20th)

61.5%

37

Marcellino (R-5th)

42.8%

Little (R-45th)

59.2%

38

Kennedy (D-58th)

42.4%

Flanagan (R-2nd)

58.7%

39

Ranzenhofer (R-61st)

41.4%

Skelos (R-9th)

57.0%

40

Carlucci (D-38th)

39.6%

10

Fuschillo (R-8th)

56.7%

41

Peralta (D-13th)

37.9%

11

Johnson, Owen (R4th)

56.7%

42

Duane (D-29th)

37.7%

12

Libous (R-52nd)

55.4%

43

Montgomery (D-18th)

37.5%

13

Smith (D-14th)

54.9%

44

Lanza (R-24th)

35.1%

14

Breslin (D-46th)

54.5%

45

Avella (D-11th)

32.5%

15

Gallivan (R-59th)

54.5%

46

Stavisky (D-16th)

32.1%

16

LaValle (R-1st)

54.2%

47

Parker (D-21st)

30.5%

17

Serrano (D-28th)

54.1%

48

Grisanti (R-60th)

27.5%

18

Zeldin (R-3rd)

53.4%

49

Saland (R-41st)

26.2%

19

Maziarz (R-62nd)

53.3%

50

Rivera (D-33rd)

22.8%

20

Larkin (R-39th)

53.2%

51

Savino, Diane (D-23rd)

22.6%

21

Dilan (D-17th)

52.8%

52

Perkins (D-20th)

22.6%

22

Valesky (D-49th)

52.7%

53

Alesi (R-55th)

21.2%

23

Hannon (R-6th)

52.5%

54

Espaillat (D-31st)

20.7%

24

Gianaris (D-12th)

52.1%

55

Stewart-Cousins (D35th)

20.3%

25

Hassell-Thompson
(D-36th)

51.7%

56

Huntley (D-10th)

17.8%

26

Klein (D-34th)

50.7%

57

Addabbo (D-15th)

16.9%

27

Bonacic (R-42nd)

50.6%

58

Krueger (D-26th)

16.6%

28

Sampson (D-19th)

50.3%

59

Oppenheimer (D-37th)

16.2%

29

Golden (R-22nd)

49.2%

60

McDonald (R-43rd)

14.2%

30

Farley (R-44th)

48.7%

61

Diaz (D-32nd)

8.3%

31

Ball (R-40th)

48.3%

62

Squadron (D-25th)

0.0%

Corporate contributions and individual contributions

of $1,000 or moretotal dollars (overall: $18,624,723)
Ran
Dolla
Ra
Dollar
Senator
Senator
k
rs
nk
s
1

Skelos (R-9th)

Klein (D-34th)

Libous (R-52nd)

Golden (R-22nd)

Saland (R-41st)

Maziarz (R-62nd)

Ball (R-40th)

Grisanti (R-60th)

McDonald (R-43rd)

10

Kennedy (D-58th)

11

Hannon (R-6th)

12

Zeldin (R-3rd)

13

Alesi (R-55th)

14

Martins (R-7th)

15

Seward (R-51st)

16

DeFrancisco (R50th)

17

Fuschillo (R-8th)

18

Gianaris (D-12th)

19

Ranzenhofer (R61st)

20

Carlucci (D-38th)

21

Young (R-57th)

$1,337,7
93
$1,067,4
63
$934,95
0
$890,42
4
$736,72
2
$714,56
8
$685,86
5
$678,03
9
$670,14
3
$598,04
8
$553,50
0
$552,47
5
$503,66
3
$452,25
0
$445,21
5
$411,39
9
$388,63
4
$382,00
0
$377,82
3
$356,66
4
$353,14
5

32

LaValle (R-1st)

$172,075

33

Gallivan (R-59th)

$160,442

34

Stavisky (D-16th)

$154,669

35

Savino, Diane (D-23rd)

$153,325

36

Dilan (D-17th)

$148,550

37

Marcellino (R-5th)

$140,750

38

Flanagan (R-2nd)

$140,537

39

Espaillat (D-31st)

$136,600

40

Rivera (D-33rd)

$135,993

41

O'Mara (R-53rd)

$132,040

42

Krueger (D-26th)

$131,996

43

Addabbo (D-15th)

$131,435

44

Lanza (R-24th)

$124,625

45

Ritchie (R-48th)

$117,699

46

Peralta (D-13th)

$113,520

47

Parker (D-21st)

$107,849

48

Hassell-Thompson (D36th)

$97,034

49

Duane (D-29th)

$94,425

50

Stewart-Cousins (D35th)

$93,933

51

Griffo (R-47th)

$87,973

52

Adams (D-20th)

$79,400

22

Sampson (D-19th)

23

Nozzolio (R-54th)

24

Bonacic (R-42nd)

25

Storobin (R-27th)

26

Valesky (D-49th)

27

Larkin (R-39th)

28

Breslin (D-46th)

29

Smith (D-14th)

30

Robach (R-56th)

31

Little (R-45th)

$352,10
0
$284,82
5
$284,06
5
$269,15
7
$251,52
1
$211,09
0
$210,73
0
$210,19
5
$191,14
0
$177,97
5

53

Farley (R-44th)

$78,130

54

Oppenheimer (D-37th)

$76,550

55

Huntley (D-10th)

$61,533

56

Squadron (D-25th)

$57,000

57

Avella (D-11th)

$51,560

58

Diaz (D-32nd)

$43,749

59

Johnson, Owen (R-4th)

$32,200

60

Montgomery (D-18th)

$12,500

61

Perkins (D-20th)

$11,750

62

Serrano (D-28th)

$11,300

Corporate contributions and individual contributions

of $1,000 or morepercentage (overall: 69.0%)
Ran
Perce
Ra
Perce
Senator
Senator
k
nt
nk
nt
1

Hannon (R-6th)

86.4%

32

Gallivan (R-59th)

65.2%

Oppenheimer (D37th)

85.1%

33

Squadron (D-25th)

65.0%

Storobin (R-27th)

83.4%

34

Flanagan (R-2nd)

65.0%

Klein (D-34th)

83.4%

35

Dilan (D-17th)

64.3%

Sampson (D-19th)

82.0%

36

Carlucci (D-38th)

63.8%

Saland (R-41st)

80.9%

37

Adams (D-20th)

63.0%

Alesi (R-55th)

80.9%

38

O'Mara (R-53rd)

61.0%

Ball (R-40th)

79.9%

39

Breslin (D-46th)

59.9%

Seward (R-51st)

79.2%

40

Duane (D-29th)

59.3%

10

Skelos (R-9th)

77.9%

41

Johnson, Owen (R-4th)

58.5%

11

Smith (D-14th)

77.8%

42

Farley (R-44th)

55.4%

12

DeFrancisco (R50th)

76.4%

43

Krueger (D-26th)

55.3%

13

Gianaris (D-12th)

75.6%

44

Ritchie (R-48th)

54.5%

14

Libous (R-52nd)

75.5%

45

Serrano (D-28th)

54.1%

15

Maziarz (R-62nd)

75.5%

46

Marcellino (R-5th)

52.3%

16

Ranzenhofer (R61st)

75.3%

47

Robach (R-56th)

52.1%

17

Young (R-57th)

75.1%

48

Griffo (R-47th)

51.4%

18

Zeldin (R-3rd)

75.1%

49

Peralta (D-13th)

51.2%

19

Martins (R-7th)

74.4%

50

Espaillat (D-31st)

49.1%

20

Grisanti (R-60th)

71.9%

51

Diaz (D-32nd)

49.0%

21

Fuschillo (R-8th)

71.8%

52

Stavisky (D-16th)

45.8%

22

Little (R-45th)

70.9%

53

Parker (D-21st)

42.0%

23

McDonald (R-43rd)

70.3%

54

Lanza (R-24th)

41.9%

24

Larkin (R-39th)

69.2%

55

Rivera (D-33rd)

41.5%

25

Nozzolio (R-54th)

69.1%

56

Montgomery (D-18th)

40.8%

26

Kennedy (D-58th)

68.3%

57

Huntley (D-10th)

39.5%

27

Golden (R-22nd)

68.1%

58

Stewart-Cousins (D35th)

38.0%

28

Bonacic (R-42nd)

67.4%

59

Avella (D-11th)

36.0%

29

Valesky (D-49th)

66.2%

60

Savino, Diane (D-23rd)

35.9%

30

LaValle (R-1st)

65.6%

61

Addabbo (D-15th)

32.2%

31

Hassell-Thompson
(D-36th)

65.3%

62

Perkins (D-20th)

24.6%

APPENDIX

Senator
Name

All
Individu
als

Individua
ls
Contribut
ing
$1,000+

Adams (D-20th)

$8,715

Addabbo (D15th)
Alesi (R-55th)

Corporati
ons

Corporati
ons &
Indiv
$1000+

Unions

TOTALS

$2,000

$77,400

$79,400

$39,325

$125,940

$107,714

$62,300

$69,135

$131,435

$150,65
6

$408,555

$427,921

$371,913

$131,750

$503,663

$52,900

$622,621

$33,162

$5,000

$46,560

$51,560

$45,956

$143,308

Ball (R-40th)

$373,128

$271,329

$414,536

$685,865

$55,900

$858,650

Bonacic (R42nd)

$124,066

$70,500

$213,565

$284,065

$81,220

$421,716

$66,455

$18,940

$191,790

$210,730

$64,860

$351,598

$199,255

$135,200

$221,464

$356,664

$89,815

$559,042

$127,959

$62,150

$349,249

$411,399

$46,150

$538,633

Diaz (D-32nd)

$61,511

$36,300

$7,449

$43,749

$4,050

$89,269

Dilan (D-17th)

$45,335

$26,500

$122,050

$148,550

$45,350

$231,185

Duane (D-29th)

$72,026

$34,500

$59,925

$94,425

$24,000

$159,151

$126,985

$79,000

$57,600

$136,600

$54,550

$278,352

$37,930

$9,500

$68,630

$78,130

$21,500

$140,960

$46,532

$13,750

$126,787

$140,537

$29,400

$216,169

$125,925

$81,750

$306,884

$388,634

$87,200

$541,034

$70,822

$26,354

$134,088

$160,442

$24,224

$245,913

Avella (D-11th)

Breslin (D-46th)
Carlucci (D38th)
DeFrancisco (R50th)

Espaillat (D31st)
Farley (R-44th)
Flanagan (R2nd)
Fuschillo (R8th)
Gallivan (R59th)

Gianaris (D12th)
Golden (R22nd)

$149,462

$119,100

$262,900

$382,000

$86,800

$505,062

$387,654

$247,050

$643,374

$890,424

$218,20
0

$1,308,32
8

$71,503

$14,668

$73,305

$87,973

$18,840

$171,253

Grisanti (R60th)

$561,008

$418,698

$259,341

$678,039

$63,055

$943,553

Hannon (R-6th)

$261,934

$217,200

$336,300

$553,500

$28,100

$640,976

$45,240

$20,200

$76,834

$97,034

$24,400

$148,516

$76,118

$33,865

$27,668

$61,533

$41,662

$155,698

$5,850

$1,000

$31,200

$32,200

$16,500

$55,050

$335,035

$226,220

$371,828

$598,048

Klein (D-34th)

$455,283

$418,900

$648,563

$1,067,463

Krueger (D26th)

$150,386

$92,346

$39,650

Lanza (R-24th)

$87,208

$20,350

Larkin (R-39th)

$89,435

LaValle (R-1st)

Griffo (R-47th)

HassellThompson (D36th)
Huntley (D10th)
Johnson, Owen
(R-4th)
Kennedy (D58th)

$115,99
9
$123,55
5

$1,280,20
1

$131,996

$45,450

$238,586

$104,275

$124,625

$97,070

$297,428

$48,715

$162,375

$211,090

$40,930

$305,225

$72,482

$30,000

$142,075

$172,075

$29,100

$262,282

Senator
Name

All
Individu
als

Individua
ls
Contribut
ing
$1,000+

Corporati
ons

Corporati
ons &
Indiv
$1000+

Unions

TOTALS

Libous (R-52nd)

$393,640

$248,600

$686,350

$934,950

$124,59
9

$1,237,94
1

Little (R-45th)

$68,784

$29,300

$148,675

$177,975

$26,150

$251,109

Marcellino (R5th)

$84,495

$25,700

$115,050

$140,750

$57,575

$268,950

$153,973

$72,225

$380,025

$452,250

$61,500

$607,514

$296,608

$209,971

$504,597

$714,568

$113,27
0

$946,775

$676,750

$535,213

$134,930

$670,143

$98,400

$953,304

$4,390

$1,000

$11,500

$12,500

$13,850

$30,640

$80,700

$27,750

$257,075

$284,825

$65,450

$411,975

$91,460

$39,500

$92,540

$132,040

$10,700

$216,325

$66,450

$62,000

$14,550

$76,550

$7,250

$90,000

$87,766

$29,604

$78,245

$107,849

$66,890

$256,522

$40,055

$29,500

$84,020

$113,520

$88,150

$221,569

$13,120

$1,000

$10,750

$11,750

$21,150

$47,670

$240,297

$170,000

$207,823

$377,823

$20,900

$501,834

Martins (R-7th)
Maziarz (R62nd)
McDonald (R43rd)
Montgomery
(D-18th)
Nozzolio (R54th)
O'Mara (R53rd)
Oppenheimer
(D-37th)
Parker (D-21st)
Peralta (D13th)
Perkins (D20th)
Ranzenhofer
(R-61st)

$876,159

Ritchie (R-48th)

$74,258

$24,015

$93,684

$117,699

Rivera (D-33rd)

$102,148

$61,393

$74,600

$135,993

$47,181

$18,540

$172,600

$191,140

$596,676

$498,450

$238,272

$736,722

$32,700

$910,323

$168,600

$136,000

$216,100

$352,100

$42,300

$429,600

$86,445

$56,900

$96,425

$153,325

$241,12
5

$426,995

$150

$0

$11,300

$11,300

$9,200

$20,900

$99,962

$28,825

$416,390

$445,215

$21,400

$562,402

Skelos (R-9th)

$448,725

$358,350

$979,443

$1,337,793

$248,65
0

$1,717,16
8

Smith (D-14th)

$82,950

$61,895

$148,300

$210,195

$37,225

$270,225

$87,650

$57,000

$0

$57,000

$0

$87,650

Robach (R56th)
Saland (R-41st)
Sampson (D19th)
Savino, Diane
(D-23rd)
Serrano (D28th)
Seward (R51st)

$27,575
$117,83
1
$122,22
5

$216,041
$327,474
$367,171

Squadron (D25th)
Stavisky (D16th)
StewartCousins (D35th)
Storobin (R27th)
Valesky (D49th)

$70,482

$46,369

$108,300

$154,669

$122,25
0

$337,632

$102,888

$43,798

$50,135

$93,933

$75,400

$247,473

$157,137

$117,067

$152,090

$269,157

$8,500

$322,777

$85,501

$51,200

$200,321

$251,521

$71,496

$379,967

Young (R-57th)

$110,622

$52,760

$300,385

$353,145

$48,475

$469,932

Zeldin (R-3rd)

$253,358

$159,600

$392,875

$552,475

$61,860

$735,208