$1 million contribution to Corbett would have been illegal - if it had not been laundered [View all]

[JPZenger]

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-adelson-corbett-campaign-20140611,0,167625.story

Sheldon Adelson is the primary shareholder of the Sands Casino empire. Almost $1 million of Adelson's money ended up in the Corbett for Governor Campaign. However, State law makes it illegal for owners of gambling companies to make political contributions to PA. politicians. That a law was intended to avoid political corruption, because the state has so much control over the gambling industry. This contribution occurred while a major political fight is underway about whether state law will allow internet gambling.

However, because the money was first funneled through the Republican Governor's Association, who then gave it to Corbett, the Repubs are saying everything is perfectly legal.

They are also using the Governors Association to launder fracking money, so that the names of individual frackers do not show up on Corbett's official list of contributors.

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Phila Inquirer article

http://articles.philly.com/2014-06-11/news/50482223_1_sheldon-adelson-the-rga-corbett

Excerpt:

"A POLITICAL-action committee set up to help Gov. Corbett win re-election received nearly $1 million from a billionaire casino investor barred from making political contributions in Pennsylvania. The Republican Governors Association reported receiving $1 million for its federal political-action committee on Dec. 31 from Sheldon Adelson, CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corp.

The group immediately moved $987,844 of Adelson's money into its "RGA Pennsylvania 2014 PAC," according to a state campaign-finance report filed Jan. 31.

Pennsylvania's gaming law prohibits casino owners in the state from making contributions to candidates for state office or political-action committees in Pennsylvania."

Return the money, Tommy.