Then, almost as soon as he arrived in Washington, Ensign turned his attention to 1996, mapping out a fund-raising strategy. He also has visited potential donors in Chicago and New York. Ensign isn't the only GOP first-termer with a golden touch. Although lawmakers won't file Federal Election Commission reports for the second half of 1995 until Jan. 31, interviews with PAC managers and a spot check of recent PAC reports indicate that the giving only has accelerated.
Freshmen are vulnerable when they seek reelection, and early money can scare off rivals.
Corporate interests yearning for a sympathetic ear on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, are happy to oblige. She and others grumble that GOP leaders have only given lip service to reform. But until finance reform happens, most of us will accept PAC funding. These freshmen, though, are far from passive recipients. Many court corporations with business before their committees.