Sources: Center for Responsive Politics, Washington, D.C.; CP staff
Using Federal Election Commission data through late October, the Center for Responsive Politics has tracked major supporters of political action committees (PAC) representing concrete, aggregate, cement and asphalt production interests. Among Building Materials & Equipment, one of six Construction Sector categories, are these leading PAC contributors to 2016 federal office candidates:
- Caterpillar Inc., $931,000
- National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, $919,000
- National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, $403,500
- Oldcastle Materials, $369,400
- Cemex Inc., $305,000
- Association of Equipment Manufacturers, $178,500*
- Lehigh Hanson Inc., $113,000
- Associated Equipment & Distributors, $106,000
Other major category contributors are Ash Grove Cement, $86,500; National Asphalt Pavement Association, $72,500; LafargeHolcim, $72,000; Portland Cement Association, $61,000; Vulcan Materials, $60,900; and, CalPortland Co., $54,000.
Of the $14,465,148 the Center for Responsive Politics tallied through October 28 in Construction Sector PAC contributions to federal candidates, $11,332,650 went to Republicans, $3,115,898 to Democrats. In addition to Building Materials & Equipment, the sector spans five other categories:
- Construction Services; American Council of Engineering Companies, $1.4 million, top contributor;
- General Contractors; Associated Builders & Contractors, $1,050,000 and Associated General Contractors of America, $607,500, top contributors;
- Home Builders; National Association of Home Builders, $1.8 million; and,
- Special Trade Contractors; National Association of Electrical Contractors, $1,015,000.
The Center for Responsive Politics operates the widely subscribed www.opensecrets.org site, and bills itself as “nonpartisan, independent and nonprofit [and] the nation’s premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.”
* Building Materials & Equipment-aligned AEM listed here, but included in the Center for Responsive Politics’ Miscellaneous Manufacturing & Distributing Sector.