PACs follow freshmen Reps' committee assignments

By Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press writer

WASHINGTON -- As a challenger for a House seat in Massachusetts, James P. McGovern raised only 7 percent of his political action committee money from the transportation industry.

McGovern won, and the Democrat landed a seat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Now, preparing to run as an incumbent, he finds transportation interests eager to help.

Between Jan. 1 and June 30, McGovern raised 37 percent of his PAC money from the transportation industry.

Across the nation, as freshman lawmakers begin raising money for their first re-election campaigns, they are demonstrating how quickly they have learned to work the system, notwithstanding incessant criticism of the process amid parallel House and Senate fund-raising investigations.

During the first six months of 1997, the 74 House members first elected last November reported raising $9.7 million -- an average of more than $130,000 per lawmaker -- with $4.4 million, or 46 percent, coming from political action committees.

In many cases, the first-term members of the House are getting that PAC money from the industries and unions whose issues come before the committees they serve.

"What you find is money from special interests follow those committees that can help those special interests," said Ann McBride, president of the watchdog group Common Cause. "It's the one clear illustration that this money is about buying access and influence."

A computer-assisted analysis by The Associated Press found several examples of House freshmen picking up fresh financial support from the industries affected by their committees:

Donations from farm PACs to Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. increased once the Virginia Democrat landed a seat on the House Agriculture Committee. When he ran in 1996, 15 percent, or $35,200, of his $236,488 in PAC money came from agriculture interests. In the first six months of 1997, it rose to 23 percent, $9,250 of $39,700.

Kansas Republican Jim Ryun already has raised more money from financial and real estate PACs as a new member of the House Banking Committee -- $19,499 -- than the $12,500 he took in for his first campaign. Banking, insurance and housing PACs accounted for 43 percent of the $45,625 in PAC money Ryun raised this year. They accounted for just 9 percent of the $135,400 he raised last year.

Freshmen rarely land on the House Commerce Committee, but Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., won a coveted position there. A member of Commerce's telecommunications subcommittee, Shimkus took in 13 percent, $20,445, of his $153,671 in PAC money from telephone, broadcasting and other communications interests during the first six months of 1997. Last year, communications companies accounted for 8 percent, $20,250, of Shimkus' $260,524 in PAC money.

In ousting Republican Peter I. Blute last fall, McGovern took in $21,450 from transportation PACs. He has raised nearly as much money from the industry -- $18,825 -- in just the first six months of 1997, an off-election year.

John Del Cecato, the congressman's spokesman, said the contributions reflect McGovern's longstanding support for transportation.

"It's not surprising that the folks who share Jim's commitment to our national infrastructure system would want to support him," Del Cecato said. "Jim's always felt very strongly about investing in our national infrastructure. That's why he fought so hard for a seat on the transportation committee."

When Rep. Jim Maloney, D-Conn., ran against Republican incumbent Gary Franks, he pulled in just 2 percent of his PAC contributions -- $5,000 of $277,923 -- from financial and real estate interests.

Once elected, Maloney landed a seat on the House Banking Committee. During the first six months of 1997, banking, insurance and real estate interests accounted for 17 percent of his PAC contributions, $10,360 of $59,860.

He acknowledged targeting the banking community for a fund-raiser, but said he has done that with many other groups as well.

"In the past, I've had fund-raisers that focused on issues of concern to physicians," Maloney said. "I've had occasions to talk to nurses. That's also true of persons who have concerns about banking issues."

Still, PACs have one thing in mind when they make campaign contributions, said Kent Cooper, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which studies political donations.

"Their concern is making friends, gaining access and bringing them face-to-face with the members who legislate and regulate their industry," Cooper said. "That access comes through campaign contributions to that elected official."

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