| Political activist Fonda blazes
soft-money trail
(Note from RG: If you have trouble getting around the AJC's mandatory cookie policy, go the Google, then search on the title of the article above. It works, that's how I got this without letting AJC put a cookie on my machine. You may also search Google's News section.) September 25, 2003 By Julia Malone The Atlanta Journal-Constitution To submit a Letter to the Editor: letters@ajc.com Washington, D.C. - Known for her outspoken activism, Jane Fonda is tops among supporters of interest groups that help political parties get out their messages despite donation and spending limits, according to a study released Wednesday. The nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, in what it billed as the first comprehensive look at such organizations, found they had spent an eye-popping $450 million to influence political campaigns over the last three years. The center, using a computer analysis of Internal Revenue Service disclosures filed by 471 of the political organizations, concluded that both major parties have made extensive use of their "silent partners," who face few of the regulations imposed on the parties themselves. Democrats have been the major beneficiaries, with roughly two-thirds of the spending leaning in their direction. Fonda, the Atlanta-based actress and political activist, emerged as by far the top contributor to these groups. The study found she gave more than $13 million to her own tax-exempt committee, Pro-Choice Vote, which then distributed most of the money to abortion rights groups such as Planned Parenthood. Fonda's Atlanta representative did not respond to calls seeking comment on her donations. Gloria Totten, a Washington fund-raiser who oversees Fonda's fund, said the account has been inactive since 2001, following a drop in the stock market. Even so, Fonda remained $10 million ahead of the next-biggest donor, Alida R. Messinger, the philanthropist daughter of John D. Rockefeller. Messinger gave $2.4 million, chiefly to environmentalist groups. Fonda's donations dwarfed those of her ex-husband, CNN founder Ted Turner, who gave $40,000 to tax-exempt committees for Democratic Senate candidates in Georgia, Missouri and Montana last year. http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0903/25poldol.html;COXnetJSessionID= |