CALA Continues to Deceive Voters on Candidate Contributions
Twists Facts Beyond Recognition While Ignoring Others
October 6, 2014
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Association for Justice issued the following statement in response to the West Virginia Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse’s ongoing effort to mislead West Virginia voters on contributions to legislative candidates:
“West Virginia voters deserve complete and accurate information about who is donating to legislative candidates, but they are not going to get it from Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. CALA picks and chooses a few facts to scare West Virginia voters into giving up their constitutional rights to our civil courts and trial by jury,” said Anthony Majestro, president of the West Virginia Association for Justice.
“Let’s talk about who is really trying to buy West Virginia elections. Like Don Blankenship did before, the out-of-state, billionaire Koch brothers and other big-money corporate special interests are dumping millions into our state to buy seats in our legislature. Why? Because they want total immunity when they harm West Virginia consumers, workers and small businesses. In every case, they refuse to disclose to state voters who they really are. They hide behind false names like And for the Sake of the Kids, West Virginians for Prosperity and Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse. It’s wrong.”
“Yes, the candidates included on CALA’s list received contributions from trial lawyers, but CALA doesn’t bother to disclose that those donations represent just a fraction of what each candidate raised A comprehensive analysis shows that these candidates have broad support. Contributions came from industry leaders, our state’s largest corporations and small business owners. They came from medical providers, labor unions and bankers. They came from the coal industry and environmental activists. There are contributions from college students and from senior citizens. There are contributors who donated $1,000 and others who gave just $10. What this shows is that a lot of West Virginians—voters with very diverse business and personal interests—believe that these candidates are the best ones for the job. We’re proud to join these business leaders, workers and citizens in supporting these candidates.”
“It’s also important to note that while the West Virginia Association for Justice LAWPAC has donated more than $160,000 to candidates in the primary and general elections, this is comparable to other political action committees. For example, the campaign finance reporting system shows that the West Virginia Bankers PAC has made more than $180,000 in expenditures. The West Virginia Business and Industry Council’s Moving West Virginia Forward BICPAC received $250,000 from one out-of-state corporate donor. Who’s trying to buy elections?”
“CALA also continues to ‘scare’ voters with big numbers, citing the $600,000 given to legislative candidates by attorneys and the WVAJ political action committee. That is just a fraction of the more than $6.2 million in political contributions candidates have received. More than 90 percent of the contributions came from other industries, individuals and interests, but CALA doesn’t bother to say that.”
“The truth is that many believe these candidates are going to do what’s best for West Virginia businesses, workers and consumers—not for the out-of-state, billionaire corporate interests that are behind CALA and these other groups trying to buy our elections. Our 7th Amendment right to trial by jury is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Americans. CALA’s aim is to render that right meaningless to West Virginia consumers and small businesses. We would never allow our First or Second Amendment rights to be destroyed. West Virginia voters need to stand up for our Constitution and Bill of Rights and reject CALA’s misinformation and propaganda.”
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