NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release:

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

For more information, contact:

Joe Rappaport, 212-206-9168 or 646-284-1078

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.

Top10
Totaldollarsofcorporatedonors
Rank Senator

Dollars

Top10
Percentageofcorporatedonors

Rank Senator

Percent

Skelos(R9th)

$979,443

Seward(R51st)

74.0%

Libous(R52nd)

$686,350

DeFrancisco(R50th)

64.8%

Klein(D34th)

$648,563

Young(R57th)

63.9%

Golden(R22nd)

$643,374

Martins(R7th)

62.6%

Maziarz(R62nd)

$504,597

Nozzolio(R54th)

62.4%

Seward(R51st)

$416,390

Adams(D20th)

61.5%

Ball(R40th)

$414,536

Little(R45th)

59.2%

Zeldin(R3rd)

$392,875

Flanagan(R2nd)

58.7%

Martins(R7th)

$380,025

Skelos(R9th)

57.0%

10

Kennedy(D58th)

$371,828

10

Fuschillo(R8th)

56.7%

The group also compiled top-10 lists showing which senators collected the most and highest
percentage of corporate and big-money donations.
Top10
Totalcorporatedollarsand
individualdonorsgiving$1,000ormore
Rank Senator

Dollars

Top10
Percentageofcorporatedollarsand
individualsgiving$1,000ormore

Rank Senator

Percent

Skelos(R9th)

$1,337,793

Hannon(R6th)

86.4%

Klein(D34th)

$1,067,463

Oppenheimer(D37th)

85.1%

Libous(R52nd)

$934,950

Storobin(R27th)

83.4%

Golden(R22nd)

$890,424

Klein(D34th)

83.4%

Saland(R41st)

$736,722

Sampson(D19th)

82.0%

Maziarz(R62nd)

$714,568

Saland(R41st)

80.9%

Ball(R40th)

$685,865

Alesi(R55th)

80.9%

Grisanti(R60th)

$678,039

Ball(R40th)

79.9%

McDonald(R43rd)

$670,143

Seward(R51st)

79.2%

10

Kennedy(D58th)

$598,048

10

Skelos(R9th)

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.

Corporatedonationstotaldollars(overall:$12,155,899)
Rank Senator

Dollars Rank Senator

Dollars

Skelos(R9th)

$979,443

32

Gallivan(R59th)

$134,088

Libous(R52nd)

$686,350

33

Alesi(R55th)

$131,750

Klein(D34th)

$648,563

34

Flanagan(R2nd)

$126,787

Golden(R22nd)

$643,374

35

Dilan(D17th)

$122,050

Maziarz(R62nd)

$504,597

36

Marcellino(R5th)

$115,050

Seward(R51st)

$416,390

37

Stavisky(D16th)

$108,300

Ball(R40th)

$414,536

38

Lanza(R24th)

$104,275

Zeldin(R3rd)

$392,875

39

Savino,Diane(D23rd)

$96,425

Martins(R7th)

$380,025

40

Ritchie(R48th)

$93,684

10

Kennedy(D58th)

$371,828

41

O'Mara(R53rd)

$92,540

11

DeFrancisco(R50th)

$349,249

42

Peralta(D13th)

$84,020

12

Hannon(R6th)

$336,300

43

Parker(D21st)

$78,245

13

Fuschillo(R8th)

$306,884

44

Adams(D20th)

$77,400

14

Young(R57th)

$300,385

45

HassellThompson(D36th)

$76,834

15

Gianaris(D12th)

$262,900

46

Rivera(D33rd)

$74,600

16

Grisanti(R60th)

$259,341

47

Griffo(R47th)

$73,305

17

Nozzolio(R54th)

$257,075

48

Addabbo(D15th)

$69,135

18

Saland(R41st)

$238,272

49

Farley(R44th)

$68,630

19

Carlucci(D38th)

$221,464

50

Duane(D29th)

$59,925

20

Sampson(D19th)

$216,100

51

Espaillat(D31st)

$57,600

21

Bonacic(R42nd)

$213,565

52

StewartCousins(D35th)

$50,135

22

Ranzenhofer(R61st)

$207,823

53

Avella(D11th)

$46,560

23

Valesky(D49th)

$200,321

54

Krueger(D26th)

$39,650

24

Breslin(D46th)

$191,790

55

Johnson,Owen(R4th)

$31,200

25

Robach(R56th)

$172,600

56

Huntley(D10th)

$27,668

26

Larkin(R39th)

$162,375

57

Oppenheimer(D37th)

$14,550

27

Storobin(R27th)

$152,090

58

Montgomery(D18th)

$11,500

28

Little(R45th)

$148,675

59

Serrano(D28th)

$11,300

29

Smith(D14th)

$148,300

60

Perkins(D20th)

$10,750

30

LaValle(R1st)

$142,075

61

Diaz(D32nd)

31

McDonald(R43rd)

$134,930

62

Squadron(D25th)

$7,449
$0

Corporatedonationsshareoftotaldonations(overall:45.0%)
Rank Senator

Percent Rank Senator

Percent

Seward(R51st)

74.0%

32

Storobin(R27th)

47.1%

DeFrancisco(R50th)

64.8%

33

Robach(R56th)

47.0%

Young(R57th)

63.9%

34

Ritchie(R48th)

43.4%

Martins(R7th)

62.6%

35

Griffo(R47th)

42.8%

Nozzolio(R54th)

62.4%

36

O'Mara(R53rd)

42.8%

Adams(D20th)

61.5%

37

Marcellino(R5th)

42.8%

Little(R45th)

59.2%

38

Kennedy(D58th)

42.4%

Flanagan(R2nd)

58.7%

39

Ranzenhofer(R61st)

41.4%

Skelos(R9th)

57.0%

40

Carlucci(D38th)

39.6%

10

Fuschillo(R8th)

56.7%

41

Peralta(D13th)

37.9%

11

Johnson,Owen(R4th)

56.7%

42

Duane(D29th)

37.7%

12

Libous(R52nd)

55.4%

43

Montgomery(D18th)

37.5%

13

Smith(D14th)

54.9%

44

Lanza(R24th)

35.1%

14

Breslin(D46th)

54.5%

45

Avella(D11th)

32.5%

15

Gallivan(R59th)

54.5%

46

Stavisky(D16th)

32.1%

16

LaValle(R1st)

54.2%

47

Parker(D21st)

30.5%

17

Serrano(D28th)

54.1%

48

Grisanti(R60th)

27.5%

18

Zeldin(R3rd)

53.4%

49

Saland(R41st)

26.2%

19

Maziarz(R62nd)

53.3%

50

Rivera(D33rd)

22.8%

20

Larkin(R39th)

53.2%

51

Savino,Diane(D23rd)

22.6%

21

Dilan(D17th)

52.8%

52

Perkins(D20th)

22.6%

22

Valesky(D49th)

52.7%

53

Alesi(R55th)

21.2%

23

Hannon(R6th)

52.5%

54

Espaillat(D31st)

20.7%

24

Gianaris(D12th)

52.1%

55

StewartCousins(D35th)

20.3%

25

HassellThompson(D
36th)

51.7%

56

Huntley(D10th)

17.8%

26

Klein(D34th)

50.7%

57

Addabbo(D15th)

16.9%

27

Bonacic(R42nd)

50.6%

58

Krueger(D26th)

16.6%

28

Sampson(D19th)

50.3%

59

Oppenheimer(D37th)

16.2%

29

Golden(R22nd)

49.2%

60

McDonald(R43rd)

14.2%

30

Farley(R44th)

48.7%

61

Diaz(D32nd)

8.3%

31

Ball(R40th)

48.3%

62

Squadron(D25th)

0.0%

Corporatecontributionsandindividualcontributionsof$1,000ormore
totaldollars(overall:$18,624,723)
Rank Senator

Dollars Rank Senator

Dollars

Skelos(R9th)

$1,337,793

32

LaValle(R1st)

$172,075

Klein(D34th)

$1,067,463

33

Gallivan(R59th)

$160,442

Libous(R52nd)

$934,950

34

Stavisky(D16th)

$154,669

Golden(R22nd)

$890,424

35

Savino,Diane(D23rd)

$153,325

Saland(R41st)

$736,722

36

Dilan(D17th)

$148,550

Maziarz(R62nd)

$714,568

37

Marcellino(R5th)

$140,750

Ball(R40th)

$685,865

38

Flanagan(R2nd)

$140,537

Grisanti(R60th)

$678,039

39

Espaillat(D31st)

$136,600

McDonald(R43rd)

$670,143

40

Rivera(D33rd)

$135,993

10

Kennedy(D58th)

$598,048

41

O'Mara(R53rd)

$132,040

11

Hannon(R6th)

$553,500

42

Krueger(D26th)

$131,996

12

Zeldin(R3rd)

$552,475

43

Addabbo(D15th)

$131,435

13

Alesi(R55th)

$503,663

44

Lanza(R24th)

$124,625

14

Martins(R7th)

$452,250

45

Ritchie(R48th)

$117,699

15

Seward(R51st)

$445,215

46

Peralta(D13th)

$113,520

16

DeFrancisco(R50th)

$411,399

47

Parker(D21st)

$107,849

17

Fuschillo(R8th)

$388,634

48

HassellThompson(D36th)

$97,034

18

Gianaris(D12th)

$382,000

49

Duane(D29th)

$94,425

19

Ranzenhofer(R61st)

$377,823

50

StewartCousins(D35th)

$93,933

20

Carlucci(D38th)

$356,664

51

Griffo(R47th)

$87,973

21

Young(R57th)

$353,145

52

Adams(D20th)

$79,400

22

Sampson(D19th)

$352,100

53

Farley(R44th)

$78,130

23

Nozzolio(R54th)

$284,825

54

Oppenheimer(D37th)

$76,550

24

Bonacic(R42nd)

$284,065

55

Huntley(D10th)

$61,533

25

Storobin(R27th)

$269,157

56

Squadron(D25th)

$57,000

26

Valesky(D49th)

$251,521

57

Avella(D11th)

$51,560

27

Larkin(R39th)

$211,090

58

Diaz(D32nd)

$43,749

28

Breslin(D46th)

$210,730

59

Johnson,Owen(R4th)

$32,200

29

Smith(D14th)

$210,195

60

Montgomery(D18th)

$12,500

30

Robach(R56th)

$191,140

61

Perkins(D20th)

$11,750

31

Little(R45th)

$177,975

62

Serrano(D28th)

$11,300

Corporatecontributionsandindividualcontributionsof$1,000ormore
percentage(overall:69.0%)
Rank Senator

Percent Rank Senator

Percent

Hannon(R6th)

86.4%

32

Gallivan(R59th)

65.2%

Oppenheimer(D37th)

85.1%

33

Squadron(D25th)

65.0%

Storobin(R27th)

83.4%

34

Flanagan(R2nd)

65.0%

Klein(D34th)

83.4%

35

Dilan(D17th)

64.3%

Sampson(D19th)

82.0%

36

Carlucci(D38th)

63.8%

Saland(R41st)

80.9%

37

Adams(D20th)

63.0%

Alesi(R55th)

80.9%

38

O'Mara(R53rd)

61.0%

Ball(R40th)

79.9%

39

Breslin(D46th)

59.9%

Seward(R51st)

79.2%

40

Duane(D29th)

59.3%

10

Skelos(R9th)

77.9%

41

Johnson,Owen(R4th)

58.5%

11

Smith(D14th)

77.8%

42

Farley(R44th)

55.4%

12

DeFrancisco(R50th)

76.4%

43

Krueger(D26th)

55.3%

13

Gianaris(D12th)

75.6%

44

Ritchie(R48th)

54.5%

14

Libous(R52nd)

75.5%

45

Serrano(D28th)

54.1%

15

Maziarz(R62nd)

75.5%

46

Marcellino(R5th)

52.3%

16

Ranzenhofer(R61st)

75.3%

47

Robach(R56th)

52.1%

17

Young(R57th)

75.1%

48

Griffo(R47th)

51.4%

18

Zeldin(R3rd)

75.1%

49

Peralta(D13th)

51.2%

19

Martins(R7th)

74.4%

50

Espaillat(D31st)

49.1%

20

Grisanti(R60th)

71.9%

51

Diaz(D32nd)

49.0%

21

Fuschillo(R8th)

71.8%

52

Stavisky(D16th)

45.8%

22

Little(R45th)

70.9%

53

Parker(D21st)

42.0%

23

McDonald(R43rd)

70.3%

54

Lanza(R24th)

41.9%

24

Larkin(R39th)

69.2%

55

Rivera(D33rd)

41.5%

25

Nozzolio(R54th)

69.1%

56

Montgomery(D18th)

40.8%

26

Kennedy(D58th)

68.3%

57

Huntley(D10th)

39.5%

27

Golden(R22nd)

68.1%

58

StewartCousins(D35th)

38.0%

28

Bonacic(R42nd)

67.4%

59

Avella(D11th)

36.0%

29

Valesky(D49th)

66.2%

60

Savino,Diane(D23rd)

35.9%

30

LaValle(R1st)

65.6%

61

Addabbo(D15th)

32.2%

31

HassellThompson(D
36th)

65.3%

62

Perkins(D20th)

24.6%

APPENDIX
All
Individuals

Individuals
Contributing
$1,000+

Corporations

Corporations
&Indiv
$1000+

Unions

TOTALS

$8,715

$2,000

$77,400

$79,400

$39,325

$125,940

Addabbo(D15th)

$107,714

$62,300

$69,135

$131,435

$150,656

$408,555

Alesi(R55th)

$427,921

$371,913

$131,750

$503,663

$52,900

$622,621

Avella(D11th)

$33,162

$5,000

$46,560

$51,560

$45,956

$143,308

Ball(R40th)

$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

Breslin(D46th)

$66,455

$18,940

$191,790

$210,730

$64,860

$351,598

Carlucci(D38th)

$199,255

$135,200

$221,464

$356,664

$89,815

$559,042

DeFrancisco(R
50th)

$127,959

$62,150

$349,249

$411,399

$46,150

$538,633

Diaz(D32nd)

$61,511

$36,300

$7,449

$43,749

$4,050

$89,269

Dilan(D17th)

$45,335

$26,500

$122,050

$148,550

$45,350

$231,185

Duane(D29th)

$72,026

$34,500

$59,925

$94,425

$24,000

$159,151

Espaillat(D31st)

$126,985

$79,000

$57,600

$136,600

$54,550

$278,352

Farley(R44th)

$37,930

$9,500

$68,630

$78,130

$21,500

$140,960

Flanagan(R2nd)

$46,532

$13,750

$126,787

$140,537

$29,400

$216,169

Fuschillo(R8th)

$125,925

$81,750

$306,884

$388,634

$87,200

$541,034

Gallivan(R59th)

$70,822

$26,354

$134,088

$160,442

$24,224

$245,913

Gianaris(D12th)

$149,462

$119,100

$262,900

$382,000

$86,800

$505,062

Golden(R22nd)

$387,654

$247,050

$643,374

$890,424

$218,200

$1,308,328

Griffo(R47th)

$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(R6th)

$261,934

$217,200

$336,300

$553,500

$28,100

$640,976

HassellThompson
(D36th)

$45,240

$20,200

$76,834

$97,034

$24,400

$148,516

Huntley(D10th)

$76,118

$33,865

$27,668

$61,533

$41,662

$155,698

Johnson,Owen(R
4th)

$5,850

$1,000

$31,200

$32,200

$16,500

$55,050

Kennedy(D58th)

$335,035

$226,220

$371,828

$598,048

$115,999

$876,159

Klein(D34th)

$455,283

$418,900

$648,563

$1,067,463

$123,555

$1,280,201

Krueger(D26th)

$150,386

$92,346

$39,650

$131,996

$45,450

$238,586

Lanza(R24th)

$87,208

$20,350

$104,275

$124,625

$97,070

$297,428

Larkin(R39th)

$89,435

$48,715

$162,375

$211,090

$40,930

$305,225

LaValle(R1st)

$72,482

$30,000

$142,075

$172,075

$29,100

$262,282

SenatorName
Adams(D20th)

All
Individuals

Individuals
Contributing
$1,000+

Libous(R52nd)

$393,640

$248,600

$686,350

Little(R45th)

$68,784

$29,300

Marcellino(R5th)

$84,495

Martins(R7th)

SenatorName

Corporations
Corporations
&Indiv
$1000+

Unions

TOTALS

$934,950

$124,599

$1,237,941

$148,675

$177,975

$26,150

$251,109

$25,700

$115,050

$140,750

$57,575

$268,950

$153,973

$72,225

$380,025

$452,250

$61,500

$607,514

Maziarz(R62nd)

$296,608

$209,971

$504,597

$714,568

$113,270

$946,775

McDonald(R43rd)

$676,750

$535,213

$134,930

$670,143

$98,400

$953,304

Montgomery(D
18th)

$4,390

$1,000

$11,500

$12,500

$13,850

$30,640

Nozzolio(R54th)

$80,700

$27,750

$257,075

$284,825

$65,450

$411,975

O'Mara(R53rd)

$91,460

$39,500

$92,540

$132,040

$10,700

$216,325

Oppenheimer(D
37th)

$66,450

$62,000

$14,550

$76,550

$7,250

$90,000

Parker(D21st)

$87,766

$29,604

$78,245

$107,849

$66,890

$256,522

Peralta(D13th)

$40,055

$29,500

$84,020

$113,520

$88,150

$221,569

Perkins(D20th)

$13,120

$1,000

$10,750

$11,750

$21,150

$47,670

Ranzenhofer(R
61st)

$240,297

$170,000

$207,823

$377,823

$20,900

$501,834

Ritchie(R48th)

$74,258

$24,015

$93,684

$117,699

$27,575

$216,041

Rivera(D33rd)

$102,148

$61,393

$74,600

$135,993

$117,831

$327,474

Robach(R56th)

$47,181

$18,540

$172,600

$191,140

$122,225

$367,171

Saland(R41st)

$596,676

$498,450

$238,272

$736,722

$32,700

$910,323

Sampson(D19th)

$168,600

$136,000

$216,100

$352,100

$42,300

$429,600

Savino,Diane(D
23rd)

$86,445

$56,900

$96,425

$153,325

$241,125

$426,995

Serrano(D28th)

$150

$0

$11,300

$11,300

$9,200

$20,900

Seward(R51st)

$99,962

$28,825

$416,390

$445,215

$21,400

$562,402

Skelos(R9th)

$448,725

$358,350

$979,443

$1,337,793

$248,650

$1,717,168

Smith(D14th)

$82,950

$61,895

$148,300

$210,195

$37,225

$270,225

Squadron(D25th)

$87,650

$57,000

$0

$57,000

$0

$87,650

Stavisky(D16th)

$70,482

$46,369

$108,300

$154,669

$122,250

$337,632

StewartCousins
(D35th)

$102,888

$43,798

$50,135

$93,933

$75,400

$247,473

Storobin(R27th)

$157,137

$117,067

$152,090

$269,157

$8,500

$322,777

Valesky(D49th)

$85,501

$51,200

$200,321

$251,521

$71,496

$379,967

Young(R57th)

$110,622

$52,760

$300,385

$353,145

$48,475

$469,932

Zeldin(R3rd)

$253,358

$159,600

$392,875

$552,475

$61,860

$735,208