In the battle to control the New York state Senate, the real estate
industry is spending big to help Republicans, while teachers' unions are
lavishing funds on Democrats.
But oddly, the two sides have lately been pouring money into the same outside group: the New York League of Conservation Voters' political action committee, which is aiding Republican and Democratic Senate candidates.
The opposing sides' heavy giving to the environmental group seems to open a new front in the money war that has washed over New York elections in recent years.
The real estate industry and teachers' unions—which can be controversial among voters—have their own super PACs to support candidates. But by channeling donations through the League of Conservation Voters, their spending will be seen as coming from a respected, nonpartisan environmental group.
The league's PAC also got $350,000 from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg who, while in office, backed Republican control of the state Senate. Mr. Bloomberg is supporting Western New York Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti, who lost the GOP primary but is running on the Independence Party line.
Of the four Republican state senators who voted in favor of allowing same-sex marriage, Mr. Grisanti is the only one still in office; Mr. Bloomberg is aiding a legislator who risked his seat to pass the marriage bill. But Mr. Bloomberg has been targeted by National Rifle Association television ads, so a direct association with Mr. Grisanti might not go over well with the many gun owners in his district.
According to Dan Hendrick, the spokesman for the League of Conservation Voters, the group's donors can earmark gifts to support or oppose a particular candidate, although final decisions on spending rest with the league. Most of the compliance experts consulted by Crain's believed the arrangement to be legal.
Thus, donations from Mr. Bloomberg and the real estate industry can go to help Mr. Grisanti, while the teachers' spending will be used to boost Democrats. So far, the league has been spending to aid Finger Lakes Democratic state Sen. Ted O'Brien (and to undermine his Republican opponent, Richard Funke) and Long Island Democratic candidate Adrienne Esposito.
"A lot of people see the value in giving to us, and giving to a nonpartisan organization with credibility," said Mr. Hendrick.
Although the league supports lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, much of its fundraising for the 2014 elections has come from groups concerned about which party controls the chamber.
Five limited-liability companies controlled by major Long Island developer Glenwood Management recently gave a total of more than $100,000 to the league's PAC. Glenwood Management is also among the biggest donors to Jobs for New York, a real estate-backed group throwing $2 million toward Republicans in three state Senate races.
Meanwhile, the state teachers' union, NYSUT, and its biggest affiliate, the Manhattan-based United Federation of Teachers, have sent the league a combined $90,000. The teachers, through their PAC, invested millions to help Senate Democrats in 2012 and are spending again this year to help the party.
The league, meanwhile, believes supporting lawmakers from competing parties can help advance its agenda. Mr. Grisanti chairs the Senate's Environmental Conservation Committee, of which Mr. O'Brien is a member. Ms. Esposito is a longtime environmentalist on Long Island.
"Our message is obviously exclusively focused on the environment," said Mr. Hendrick. "This year, we especially are focusing on the leadership of the Environmental Conservation Committee. If [legislators] do what we ask them to do, we support them."
But oddly, the two sides have lately been pouring money into the same outside group: the New York League of Conservation Voters' political action committee, which is aiding Republican and Democratic Senate candidates.
The opposing sides' heavy giving to the environmental group seems to open a new front in the money war that has washed over New York elections in recent years.
The real estate industry and teachers' unions—which can be controversial among voters—have their own super PACs to support candidates. But by channeling donations through the League of Conservation Voters, their spending will be seen as coming from a respected, nonpartisan environmental group.
The league's PAC also got $350,000 from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg who, while in office, backed Republican control of the state Senate. Mr. Bloomberg is supporting Western New York Republican Sen. Mark Grisanti, who lost the GOP primary but is running on the Independence Party line.
Of the four Republican state senators who voted in favor of allowing same-sex marriage, Mr. Grisanti is the only one still in office; Mr. Bloomberg is aiding a legislator who risked his seat to pass the marriage bill. But Mr. Bloomberg has been targeted by National Rifle Association television ads, so a direct association with Mr. Grisanti might not go over well with the many gun owners in his district.
According to Dan Hendrick, the spokesman for the League of Conservation Voters, the group's donors can earmark gifts to support or oppose a particular candidate, although final decisions on spending rest with the league. Most of the compliance experts consulted by Crain's believed the arrangement to be legal.
Thus, donations from Mr. Bloomberg and the real estate industry can go to help Mr. Grisanti, while the teachers' spending will be used to boost Democrats. So far, the league has been spending to aid Finger Lakes Democratic state Sen. Ted O'Brien (and to undermine his Republican opponent, Richard Funke) and Long Island Democratic candidate Adrienne Esposito.
"A lot of people see the value in giving to us, and giving to a nonpartisan organization with credibility," said Mr. Hendrick.
Although the league supports lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, much of its fundraising for the 2014 elections has come from groups concerned about which party controls the chamber.
Five limited-liability companies controlled by major Long Island developer Glenwood Management recently gave a total of more than $100,000 to the league's PAC. Glenwood Management is also among the biggest donors to Jobs for New York, a real estate-backed group throwing $2 million toward Republicans in three state Senate races.
Meanwhile, the state teachers' union, NYSUT, and its biggest affiliate, the Manhattan-based United Federation of Teachers, have sent the league a combined $90,000. The teachers, through their PAC, invested millions to help Senate Democrats in 2012 and are spending again this year to help the party.
The league, meanwhile, believes supporting lawmakers from competing parties can help advance its agenda. Mr. Grisanti chairs the Senate's Environmental Conservation Committee, of which Mr. O'Brien is a member. Ms. Esposito is a longtime environmentalist on Long Island.
"Our message is obviously exclusively focused on the environment," said Mr. Hendrick. "This year, we especially are focusing on the leadership of the Environmental Conservation Committee. If [legislators] do what we ask them to do, we support them."
A version of this article appears in the October 27, 2014, print issue of Crain's New York Business.
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