PGE & PP&L's Very Deceptive Campaign

Multnomah County

In their television commercials and literature, Citizens against the Government Takeover gives the impression that they're average people like you and I. Viewing the Contributions and Expenditures Report, required by the state, paints a different picture. The CAGT campaign is led by Brian Gard, senior executive of Gard and Gerber, the public relations and advertising firm you see listed below.

Of the twenty-three attorneys/lawyers listed below, it appears that all of them work for law firms who represent one of the utilities or work for PGE itself. State law requires that contributors list their occupation or provide employer information.

Here is a partial breakdown of expenditures:

The in-kind donations show items like printing, voter's pamphlet statements, etc. One of the more interesting items is labeled "Employee time".

• $70,352 - in-kind PacifiCorp "employee time" contribution
• $52,010 - in-kind PGE "employee time" contribution
• $213,425 - Gard & Gerber
• $2,800 - Multnomah County (voter's pamphlet statements)

After three subsequent reporting periods, contributions totaled $2,134,631 of which $2,105,541 (98.64%) came directly from PacifiCorp and PGE. When known utility employees are included, all but a couple of them executives, the total is at least $2,108,347 (98.77%).

The legal profession total was $13,584 including $4,034 from Stoel Rives, a law firm that works for PGE. Several Stoel Rives attorneys are also listed individually above.After the $406.15 was listed in the 1st reporting period, no contributions of $50 and under were made.Comcast (cable) contributed $10,000 in the 2nd reporting period.

These are the totals through 10/31/2003. One final C&E report is due in December.

[View Clackamas County Campaign]