Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005 | 8:55 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- The political action committee of Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., accepted $5,000 donations from each of the telecommunications giants, SBC Communications Inc. and MCI Inc. -- companies that would benefit from a new bill Ensign introduced last week to overhaul telecommunications regulation.
In all Ensign collected about $102,000 from corporate PACs and individual donors in the first six months of the year, according to documents for his "Battle Born" PAC filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Donors to Ensign also included his mother, Sharon, and his step-father, Michael Ensign, who each gave him $5,000.
Other donors included Anchor Gaming Chairman Stanley Fulton ($5,000); Allegiant Air Chairman Maurice Gallagher ($5,000); Station Casinos chairman Frank Fertitta ($3,000); and Station president Lorenzo Fertitta ($3,000).
Ensign launched his Battle Born PAC shortly after he was elected in 2000. Political action committees are often used to build political favors with colleagues, which help lawmakers build alliances as they collect support for legislation and in their bids for party leadership positions.
Ensign is currently competing with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, as the two vy for the Republican Conference vice chairmanship, considered the No. 5 job in the party leadership structure. Republican senators will vote for leadership positions after the 2006 election.
Ensign's Battle Born fund gave away $50,000 to help other Republicans, including $15,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which aids GOP candidates.
Ensign gave $10,000 to Sen. George Allen, R-Va., a potential presidential contender who is up for re-election next year. Ensign also gave $10,000 to Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., and $5,000 each to Senate hopeful Edward Bryant in Tennessee, Minnesota Senate contender Mark Raymond Kennedy, and House candidate Pat DeWine of Ohio, son of Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.
Ensign collected $5,000 each from PACs for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Caesars Entertainment Inc., General Atomics, and MGM Mirage. The Federal National Mortgage Association gave Ensign $2,500. Medco Health Solutions and Prudential Financial Inc., gave Ensign $1,000.
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