Our Philadelphia

Rendell's Top Donors, 2001-2008

1	Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, L.L.P & Employees	$990,768
2	Stephen Frobouck, Anderson Group	$812,790
3	Pennsylvania State Education Association	$580,801
4	Laborers Political League	$575,000
5	Laborers District Council	$456,000

About Rendell's Top Donors

Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, L.L.P & Employees

A January 11, 2009 Inquirer editorial described Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll L.L.P. as one of the “most politically connected law firms in Philadelphia . . . a firm that collects millions in fees for a variety of government legal and bond work while funneling millions of dollars in campaign contributions to politicians.” Gov. Ed Rendell used to work at the firm, and it has been awarded at least $10 million in state contracts during his tenure as governor, according to a 11/14/08 article in The Philadelphia Bulletin. Recent high-profile clients have included the Pennsylvania Senate Republican caucus, which hired the firm to represent it in the ongoing “Bonusgate” investigation of legislative staffer bonuses in Harrisburg, as well as owners of at least 3 of the 13 licensed casinos in Pennsylvania. Nationwide, the firm’s twelve offices also represent defense contractors, managed care companies, utilities, and many other businesses.

Stephen Frobouck, Anderson Group

Stephen Frobouck made hundreds of million in the of his telecom comapny ComNet Ericsson to a subsidiary of Tyco Internation in 2001. He went on to become Gov. Ed Rendell's largest individual donor, and served on Rendell's transition team. According to a 11/9/02 article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Frobouck also contributed $100,000 to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's successful re-election campaign. "Frobouck explained he owns a house in Vero Beach, Fla., is a close friend of the governor's and trusts that his leadership is best for Florida. The Bush contribution came after ComNet Ericsson signed a contract in September 2000 worth $365 million to streamline the Florida government's communication system. In the months before ComNet was sold to the Tyco subsidiary, the company placed Rendell on an advisory board, paid him $25,000 for his year of service and awarded him stock options worth $279,000 when Tyco bought the business."

In the same article, Frobouck also recalled telling Rendel that he wanted a say in "how some of this public money is spent on infrastructure and projects."

Pennsylvania State Education Association

According to its website, “PSEA includes 1,199 local associations, representing teachers, education support professionals, health care professionals, higher education professionals, retired educators and students. We represent teachers in 483 of Pennsylvania’s 501 school districts.” PSEA’s legislative agenda in Harrisburg includes boosting teacher salaries and reserves in their pension fund, boosting school funding, providing for cost-of-living adjustments for PSEA member salaries, expanding opportunities for early retirement, and opposition to a bill that would curtail teachers’ rights to strike. Recent legislation to limit teacher strikes was introduced by State Sen. Robert Mellow after teachers at a school in Lackawanna County struck 4 times in 18 months. If Mellow's bill becomes law, no contract dispute would last into the school year. By the end of summer, teachers and school boards in conflict over contracts would present their cases to a team of arbitrators, who would decide which side's proposal was most fair. The panel's decision would be binding.

Laborers Political League

Laborers Political League

Laborers District Council

Comprised of four different unions—the Laborers Local 332, 57, 135, and 413—the Laborers District Council is by far the biggest donor to political candidates in Philadelphia. The LDC was one of the top 5 donors to Mayor John F. Street in his career, according to a 11/13/03 article in the Inquirer, with $539,000 in contributions. In 2007, LDC originally backed State Rep. Dwight Evans in the race to succeed Street, then switched and gave $19,000 to Michael Nutter in the weeks before he defeated Republican Al Taubenberger. Candidates receiving the highest percentage of all their total contributions from the LDC include State Representatives John Myers and Cherelle Parker, for whom roughly one dollar in every four received between 2001-2008 was from the LDC. The LDC is led by Samuel Staten, Sr., who has also served on the state board that recommends lawyers for appointments to Philadelphia’s Common Pleas and Municipal Courts. Staten joined Joseph Ashdale, political director for IUPAT, in bidding for a license to open a Philadelphia casino in 2006. This raises the question of whether LDC itself has lobbied in support of expanding legalized gambling. LDC is not registered to lobby with the state, and Philadelphia does not require lobbyists to register.