JACKSON - Rep. Percy Watson says a campaign contribution - no matter how large or small - does not change his thoughts on issues.
Jackson attorney Danny E. Cupit says he sticks with politicians who think the way he does. The former chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party donated $1,000 to Watson last year - part of $28,750 in campaign cash that Watson, a Hattiesburg attorney, raised in 2001.
Public officeholders are required each January to file a report with the secretary of state on campaign donations in the previous calendar year.
The Associated Press conducted a computer-assisted review of the forms filed by chairmen of high-profile legislative committees, including those that handle the state's finances, its education system and the touchy tort reform issue.
The forms, required by law for contributions of $200 or more, were heavy with attorneys and law firms as well as businesses that sell spirits and oversee gambling houses. Many times, the forms identified the contributor by name, not the particular company or special interest he or she represented.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Gordon, D-Okolona, beat out Watson for most reported contributions at $29,150.
Among Gordon's contributors, besides beer distributors, casinos and gaming associations, were finance, health care and business interests.
Gordon said the work of his committee, which oversees state spending, brings him in contact with a lot of people.
"I think it shows I represent a well-rounded group of people," Gordon said. "You build friendships through the years and sometimes you're able to help these people and sometimes you aren't.
"There are people who are interested in keeping business people in government," said Gordon, whose business interests include real estate, petroleum and manufacturing.
A common listing on the filings of the committee chairmen was Anheuser-Busch, which donated to Gordon; House Appropriations Chairman Charlie Capps, D-Cleveland; House Education Chairman Joe Warren, D-Mount Olive; Senate Finance Chairman Bill Minor, D-Holly Springs; Senate Education Chairwoman Alice Harden, D-Jackson; and Senate Public Health Chairman Robert "Bunky" Huggins, R-Greenwood.
Other major contributors:
- Tommy Wallace, owner of T.L. Wallace Construction Inc. of Columbia, donated $1,000 each to Capps, Huggins and Minor.
- Ft. Smith, Ark.-based Beverly Enterprises Inc., the country's largest nursing home company, gave $1,000 each to Capps and Gordon.
- Jackson attorney Crymes G. Pittman, former president of the trial lawyers association, gave $2,000 to Watson.
- Mississippi Gaming Association gave $1,000 each to Gordon and Watson.
Michael W. Wolf Sr., state affairs director for Anheuser-Busch in Atlanta, said the company had no legislative issues last year or this year so the company's $5,500 in campaign contributions were not driven by any particular agenda.
"If you go back over the years and look, we've always tried to be involved politically in all the states, whether or not we have a facility in the state," said Wolf, whose company's line includes Budweiser beer.
Watson's contributor list was heavy with attorneys, many of them trial lawyers such as Jackson attorney Shane F. Langston, who gave $5,000. There also were donations from the medical, health care and business communities.
"His convictions as far as standing up for the little guy, the poor and the elderly have always been the same," said Langston, president of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association. "I don't make any apologies for supporting good legislators. The people he stands up for - his constituents - are my clients. That's the political process - to support those who are going to do right."
Legislation that would have limited access to nursing home patients' records and shortened the time for filing lawsuits died in a subcommittee headed by Watson. Another tort reform bill that would have dealt with concerns that plaintiffs' lawyers were searching for cases in counties with reputations for returning large jury awards died in the Senate.
Watson, a Democrat and chairman of the House Judiciary A Committee, said he held a fund-raising golf tournament in August in Hattiesburg and solicited donations from lawyers, business people and others.
He said he had not evaluated how much money came from each group.
"It (a contribution) doesn't influence me. I don't think it influences any chairmen," Watson said.
Watson said when he held his golf tournament, nobody knew tort reform bills would be filed during the 2002 session. He acknowledged that many people knew that "most likely Judiciary A will be the committee" where such bills would be handled and where bills died during the session.
Cupit said he made his $1,000 donation for Watson's golf tournament.
"He and I have been friends many years," Cupit said. "I've got a strong interest in tort reform legislation. I'm a member of the trial lawyers association."
Cupit said he doesn't think contributions and access correlate much in local politics.
"Most everybody involved in politics or legislative activities are going to know the key player whether they contribute to their campaigns or not," he said.
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