Thread: Scramble the ALIPAC Jets!

Miller Brewing Co. to start its own PAC - political action committee - Brief Article
Modern Brewery Age, Dec 23, 2002

Miller Brewing Co., which was sold by Philip Morris in July, has started a new political action committee to make contributions to candidates for Congress.

The PAC, called Miller Brewing Company PAC, will begin seeking donations from employees next year, said Tim Scully, the Milwaukee-based company's lobbyist and soon-to-be vice president for corporate affairs.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...53/ai_96951513

Miller Brewing
2006 PAC Summary Data

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/look...780&cycle=2006

The big move came with the 2002 purchase of Miller Brewing, the number two American brand, after Budweiser/Anheuser-Busch. What's truly remarkable is that the company raised the $5.6 billion to buy controlling interest in the company. (Altria, the ex-owner, still has a considerable stake in the Miller operation.)

http://www.oligopolywatch.com/2003/07/07.html

WASHINGTON, DC - The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) will host a
Congressional Briefing, titled: "The United States Hispanic Community's role in the Emerging
Common Market in the Western Hemisphere" on Thursday, July 27, 2006 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30
a.m. in the U.S. Capitol Room HC-5. Altria Group, Inc. is the sponsor of this briefing.

Short pdf document here

CHLI Altria Congressional Briefing Unites Voices on Immigration

5/23/2006

Washington, DC--(HISPANIC PR WIRE – US NEWSWIRE)--May 18, 2006--The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) hosted its first Congressional briefing this morning at the U.S. Capitol, on the important issue of immigration reform. CHLI Chairman Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart outlined the work being performed to formulate a comprehensive immigration reform package, and introduced Senator John McCain (Ariz.), Senator Hillary Clinton (N.Y.) and Senator Mel Martinez (Fla.). Each Senator called for swift passage of comprehensive reform legislation in the Senate.

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news...d.asp?id=36368

Whether they’re launching new Hispanic recruitment efforts,
creating diversity training programs, electing Hispanics to their boards of directors or developing minority business initiatives, the companies on this year’s Hispanic Corporate 100 have raised the bar when it comes to employing, working with and serving the burgeoning Hispanic population.

Number two on the list Miller partner- Altria

ALTRIA GROUP (KRAFT, PHILIP MORRIS)

Formerly known as the Philip Morris Companies, Altria is comprised most notably of Kraft Foods and tobacco giant Philip Morris. In 2001 alone, Altria purchased more than $1.4 billion of products and services from minority- and women-owned firms. The company has a Hispanic Employee Council and employs a number of top-ranking Hispanics. Altria’s contributions to Hispanic organizations totaled $497,000 from 2002 to 2003, including funds it provided to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) for scholarship recipient’s air, lodging and registration at USHCC’s national convention. “Through our long-term partnership with the USHCC, Altria strives to play an important role in contributing to the growth and empowerment of diverse communities,” says A. Shuanise Washington, vice president, government affairs policy and outreach.

http://www.hispaniconline.com/magazi...s/corp100.html

Armando Mejía Gallardo
District Director
State Government Affairs
Altria Group, Inc.

http://www.nhcsl.com/espanol/juntanegocios.html

http://www.altria.com/about_altria/1...altriaover.asp

I'm not at my office now but there is a business week article from 4/06? that I found last night doing my own research. Relevant to the issue.

This report should increase understanding of the political and economic
dimensions of Wisconsin’s tobacco industry and how it influences public policy related to tobacco use. This report describes the structure of the major tobacco companies, their economic interests in Wisconsin and their activities to secure their public policy agenda in regard to tobacco. The report also describes the critical role played by the industry’s primary allies, the tavern and restaurant association, the convenience store association, the grocer’s association and their political agency, the now defunct Tobacco Institute.

In addition to tobacco sales, Philip Morris[Altria company], the dominant tobacco company in Wisconsin has operating revenue of $8 billion and profits of over $1 billion from its major subsidiaries Oscar Mayer, Tombstone Pizza and until recently, Miller Brewing in which it continues to own a significant minor share. Philip Morris is also a major buyer of dairy products for its Kraft Cheese division and manufactures approximately half of the cigarettes sold in Wisconsin.

http://www.cityofmadison.com/health/...obIndustry.htm