CALA Misleading Voters on Candidate Contributions
Candidates Have Broad Support, Will Put West Virginia Interests First
August 12, 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:
“The CALA election playbook is clear. Take a few facts, twist and spin them and then attempt to scare West Virginia voters into giving up their constitutional rights to our civil courts and trial by jury. 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,” said Anthony Majestro, president of the West Virginia Association for Justice.
“An accurate 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.”
“CALA also attempts to ‘scare’ voters with big numbers, citing the $300,000 given to legislative candidates by attorneys and the WVAJ political action committee. That total represents just seven percent of the more than $4 million in total contributions raised. 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 fund CALA. We would never allow our First or Second Amendment rights to be destroyed, so why are we letting CALA attack the Seventh? 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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