Energy Company Donates $250K To Democrats Group
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A company looking to buy a Baltimore-based energy group that would make it the nation's largest competitive power supplier contributed $250,000 to the Democratic Governors Association, according to its IRS report released on Monday.
Exelon Corp.'s contribution was the largest single gift reported by DGA for the period of Jan. 1 to June 30, according to its mid-year fundraising report to the Internal Revenue Service.
Chicago-based Exelon is seeking to buy Constellation Energy Group in a $7.9 billion deal. Constellation contributed $50,000 during the same period to the DGA, which is headed by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Exelon spokeswoman Judy Rader said the company's success depends on sound energy policies at the national, state and local levels.
Like other companies in the electric and nuclear industry, Exelon supports candidates from both parties, she said.
"Exelon has specific criteria on which candidates and groups to support, including those who represent our service areas, who can impact energy policy through their roles, or who have stated their support for sound energy policy," Rader said in a statement. "In this case, Exelon's contribution supports the Democratic Governors Association's national energy policy symposium series taking place across the country."
DGA Executive Director Colm O'Comartun said the group welcomed the company's support.
The DGA reported last month it raised about $11 million in the first six months of 2011, more than double what was raised for the same period in the 2007 election cycle. The DGA reported it has about $8.6 million in cash on hand.
However, the Republican Governors Association outraised the DGA by a margin of 2-to-1, raking in $22.1 million during the same period. RGA officials said they had $16.2 million in the bank.
The DGA is a voluntary political group that supports Democratic candidates across the country. It also received significant donations from labor unions.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees contributed $100,000 in the period. The Sheet Metal Workers International Association gave $50,000.
GTECH Corp., which created Maryland's monitoring system for the state's slot machines, donated $100,000 to the DGA.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
