BOSTONHealth care officials, financial industry executives and labor unions are pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into a political action committee that Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick set up to pay for his travels on behalf of President Barack Obama's re-election campaign. <\/p>\n
Patrick's Together PAC raised $455,500 from April 1 through the end of June, according to a campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. <\/p>\n
That brings the PAC's fundraising total to nearly $1.3 million since Patrick formed it last year. The committee ended June with $674,700 left in its account, having already spent $609,900. <\/p>\n
The goal of the PAC was to raise money to pay for Patrick's travels and other activities for Obama and the national Democratic Party. <\/p>\n
Among those contributing to Patrick's PAC during the most recent reporting period were former U.S. Attorney Wayne Budd and his wife, Jacqueline ($6,000); Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce President Paul Guzzi ($3,000); Stacey Lucchino, wife of Red Sox President Larry Lucchino ($5,000); and Boston attorney Thomas Kiley ($500), whose clients include former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi. <\/p>\n
Also donating to Patrick's PAC was Cape Wind President James Gordon, who gave $5,000. Patrick has been a vocal advocate for both land-based and offshore wind power including Cape Wind, which aims to be the nation's first offshore wind farm. <\/p>\n
Patrick also received contributions from the 1199 Service Employees International Union PAC ($5,000) and the Laborers' International Union of North America ($5,000). <\/p>\n
Alex Goldstein, the Together PAC's executive director, said Patrick's political activities are separate from his day job as governor. <\/p>\n
\"Contributions have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on administration policies,\" Goldstein said. <\/p>\n
Patrick also received $5,000 contributions from top executives at health care organizations like Steward Health Care, Partners Health Care, Shields Health Care Group and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Travel fundraising for Mass. Gov. Patrick tops $1M<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BOSTONHealth care officials, financial industry executives and labor unions are pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars into a political action committee that Democratic Gov. Continue reading