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Ranking Member Fundraising Battle: Pallone Gets Cash From Tech, Health Care Industries

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. received donations from health care groups and technology giants, and gave money to more than a dozen fellow Democrats, including some in vulnerable seats, a new filing for his leadership political action committee shows.  

The New Jersey Democrat, vying for the ranking member slot on the Energy and Commerce Committee in a closely-contested race , raised $116,000 for Shore PAC in the month of March. Among the groups giving money were Microsoft, AT&T, Comcast and NBC Universal.  

Pallone also racked up cash from health care groups, including the American Medical Association, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Hospital Association, American Psychiatric Association, American College of Cardiology, American College of Surgeons Professional Association and the American Academy of Neurology.  

He spent $49,000, according to the PAC filing .  

Members he gave to include Reps. Nick J. Rahall II of West Virginia; Raul Ruiz of California; Kyrsten Sinema, Ann Kirkpatrick and Ron Barber of Arizona; Tim Walz of Minnesota; John Barrow of Georgia; Dan Maffei of New York and Timothy H. Bishop of New York; Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire and Brad Schneider of Illinois, among others.  

Pallone’s rival for the panel position to replace retiring Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Anna G. Eshoo of California, raised $203,000  over the quarter, a longer filing period, for her leadership PAC. Her donations mostly came from high-tech and telecommunication firms.  

Eshoo also gave to many in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Frontline program for vulnerable members. Members who received donations from Eshoo’s PAC include Rahall, Ruiz, Sinema, John F. Tierney of Massachusetts and Ami Bera of California.  

Peninsula PAC was required to file with the FEC by the April 15 quarterly deadline. Pallone’s PAC had until April 20 to submit receipts and disbursements. FEC rules allow leadership PACs to choose the frequency of their filing each calendar year, which is why Eshoo and Pallone’s reports are not for the same time period.  

Eshoo is backed by the House’s top Democrat, fellow Californian and close friend, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi , as well as House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Joseph Crowley of New York and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel, also of New York. A roster of 10 freshmen recently penned a “dear colleague” letter of endorsement.  

Pallone late last week was the guest of honor at a dinner hosted by several members of the Congressional Black Caucus. He also has the support of Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md., in part because he’s the No. 3 Democrat and the party gives significant deference to seniority when doling out panel assignments.  

Eshoo is the fifth most senior Democrat on the panel.  

Emma Dumain contributed to this report.

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