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Member Attributes and Corporate Contributions to United States Senators: Do Environmental Compliance Costs Matter?*
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 November 2009
Abstract
This study examines corporate contributions through political action committees (PACs) to US Senate incumbents from 1978 to 1988 by those industries which have sustained substantial environmental compliance costs and consequently have an incentive to develop relatively precise targeting strategies. The findings suggest that party, ideology, regulatory costs, and challenger attributes play especially important roles in corporate allocation strategies. These industries pursue relatively precise, sophisticated campaign contribution strategies, which reflect these influences.
Résumé
L'étude porte sur les dons financiers consentis par « political action committees » aux sénateurs des États-Unis en exercice entre 1978 et 1988 par les industries qui ont encouru des frais substantiels afin de se mettre en accord avec les lois sur l'environnement, et qui par conséquent ont intérêt à développer des stratégies relativement précises concernant leurs objectifs politiques. Les conclusions suggèrent que les partis, les idéologies, les frais d'administration et les caractéristiques des concurrents exercent une influence particulière sur les stratégies d'allocation de fonds pratiquées par ces sociétés. Ces facteurs expliquent pourquoi ces industries recourent à des stratégies relativement précises et élaborées touchant les contributions aux campagnes électorales.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , June 1993 , pp. 331 - 341
- Copyright
- Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 1993
References
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31 While the industries examined in this research are very concerned with environ mental legislation, they are concerned with other issues as well. As a result, we recognize that corporate PACs affiliated with firms in those sectors are likely to be driven by their entire range of high priorities in allocating contributions.
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