Northwest Arkansas Firms Donate to GOP

Soft-money donations from Arkansas companies to the 2000 presidential election show that the Republican National Committee is getting its usual share of corporate backing from the state’s northwest corridor.

According to filings with the Federal Election Commission, seven of the 18 Arkansas companies with the highest soft-money contributions during the 1999-2000 presidential election cycle are based in northwest Arkansas. Through Sept. 1, those seven firms had donated a combined $279,969 to both political parties, and 83 percent, or $231,275, of it went to the GOP.

Only the poultry and health care industries in northwest Arkansas _ represented by Tyson Foods Inc., Peterson Farms Inc. and Beverly Enterprises Inc. _ gave to the Democratic National Committee. But even Tyson and Beverly gave to both parties, and Tyson’s donation to the Republicans was three times as much as the $13,694 it gave to the Democrats.

The Little Rock securities firm Stephens Inc., and its holding company, Stephens Group LLC, topped the state’s list of corporate soft-money contributors. Through Sept. 1, they gave a combined $225,000.

Of the $609,969 given to both parties by the state’s top 18 corporate contributors, 76 percent, or $466,275, went to the Republicans.

In the broadest sense, “soft money” means any contributions not regulated by federal election laws. That typically means general donations made to political parties instead of directly to candidates.

According to FEC documents, soft-money donations were initially allowed to promote strong party building. In reality, the loophole has emerged as the parties’ primary means of raising tens of millions of dollars during presidential campaigns, when direct contributions to candidates are prohibited.