The Albany Times-Union is reporting this week on Democratic Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand’s ties to tobacco company Phillip Morris. <\/p>\n
As an attorney, Gillibrand represented the firm for five years as the company fought civil and criminal legal battles against its critics.<\/p>\n
According to the T-U, those connections continue to pay dividends for Gillibrand:<\/p>\n
Today, the company and its executives continue to count her as a friend, donating at least $23,200 to her current campaign, public records show.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The revelations were first reported in a conservative on-line blog. <\/p>\n
Other Democrats, including Rep. Mike McNulty (D-Green Island), said they would be uncomfortable taking tobacco contributions.<\/p>\n
\nIn contrast, her neighbor, Congressman Michael McNulty, D-Green Island, received just one $500 check from the company during his 20-year career. He sent the money back.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t want to take money from a tobacco company,” McNulty said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
But the Times-Union also reports that Gillibrand voted against big tobacco on every piece of legislation that she’s faced.<\/p>\n
Gillibrand “voted in favor of all three bills pushed by anti-tobacco lobbyists and passed by the House of Representatives.”<\/p>\n
Gillibrand receives high marks from anti-tobacco activists.<\/p>\n