Political action committees have contributed 56 percent of the $1.07 million raised by Rep. John R. Kuhl Jr., R-Hammondsport, for his re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, Kuhl’s Democratic opponent, Eric Massa of Corning, has raised 23 percent of his $1.39 million in contributions from political action committees.

The committees, formed by corporations, labor unions and other special-interest groups, solicit funds from their members for political contributions. They are permitted to contribute $5,000 to a candidate for use in each election.

Kuhl received $606,887 and Massa $316,961 from political action committees through Aug. 20, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Among Kuhl’s largest political action committee contributors were Corning Inc. employees and Constellation Brands Inc., a large marketer of wine, beer and liquor.

The incumbent congressman also received financial support from agricultural interests, including Dairy Farmers of America Inc., Farm Credit Political Action Committee, American Sugar Cane League, the National Chicken Council and National Milk Producers.

According to votesmart.org, Kuhl supported the interests of the United Fresh Produce Association 100 percent of the time in 2007 and the interests of the American Farm Bureau Federation 82 percent of the time in 2005-06.

Much of Massa’s financial support came from political action committees affiliated with organized labor. Donors included the Communications Workers of America, the Service Employees International Union and the United Steelworkers.

Kuhl’s donations from the special interest groups tended to be smaller, with many in the range of $1,000 to $2,500. Kuhl had a total of 434 contributions from political action committees, compared with 192 for Massa.

Massa’s average contribution was $1,650. Donations to Kuhl averaged $1,398.

Both 29th Congressioanl District candidates received money from committees of other congressional candidates across the country.

Kuhl, for example, received donations from Gingrey for Congress in Marietta, Ga., Mario-Diaz-Balart for Congress in Miami, Shelley Moore Capito for Congress in Charleston, W. Va. and Walden for Congress in Hood River, Ore.

Campaign committees contributing to Massa included Nancy Pelosi for Congress in San Francisco, Rangel for Congress in New York City, Wasserman-Schultz for Congress in Weston, Fla., and Steve Israel for Congress in Deer Park, N.Y.

Kuhl, in a statement, lashed out at Massa for accepting money from Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.

“Mr. Massa has taken $20,000 in PAC contributions from Congressman Charlie Rangel, who is currently under investigation because he enjoyed illegal trips funded by lobbyists, admitted to federal tax evasion and broke state and federal election laws,” Kuhl said.

The congressman also charged that more than 80 percent of Massa’s campaign contributions have come from outside the 29th Congressional District.

Massa’s campaign manager, Justin Schall, said the difference between the two campaigns is that “corporate America funds Kuhl’s campaign and regular people fund our campaign.”

He added that Massa refuses to take money from corporate political action committees.

“Corporate special interests are running Washington and that’s wrong,” he said.

Schall said Kuhl has accepted $65,000 in contributions from gas, energy and oil companies.

He said the Massa campaign has no plans to immediately refund donations from Rangel.

“Rangel has not been charged with any crimes,” Schall said. “It’s disrespectful and dishonest to call him a lawbreaker.”

Schall said Massa will wait until an ethics investigation Rangel requested is complete.

“After a finding of fact by the Ethics Committee, we will take the appropriate action,” he said.

Congressional candidates must file their next financial report by Oct. 23, reflecting contributions and expenses through Oct. 15.

Source: Star Gazette