nypirg's list of top donors, recipients in 2013

8/12/2019 NYPIRG's list of top donors, recipients in 2013.

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NEWS RELEASE

107 Washington Avenue, 2ndFloor Albany, New York 12210-2270 518-436-0876 Fax 518-432-6178

Offices In: Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New Paltz, New York City, Rochester & Syracuse

NEW YORK PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP FUND INC.Recycled paper

For immediate release: Total pages, 9 For more information:

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Bill Mahoney, (518) 817-3738

ANALYSIS: 170 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS DONATED $50,000 OR MORE IN 2013

BIG DONORS PUMP $28 MILLION INTO CAMPAIGN COFFERS

MEGA-DONORS ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN HALF OF DONATIONS TO NEW YORK STATE POLS

GOVERNOR CUOMO LARGEST BENEFICIARY OF LARGESSE

170 campaign contributors donated $50,000 or more to state-level candidates and party committees in 2013. 1

They contributed a total of $28,211,646.61, representing more than half 51.41% - of all the money donated by

New Yorks 19.7 million residents.

Most of the mega-donors took advantage of various loopholes in the states campaign finance system. For

example, James Simons, number one on this list, was legally allowed to give $1 million to the NYS Democratic

Committees Housekeeping account. Number two, Leonard Litwin, made donations from 21 different limited

liability companies (LLCs).

Ten Biggest Recipients of donations from the States Largest Donors

Governor Cuomo was overwhelmingly the largest beneficiary of the current system. Donations to his campaign

committee and to the housekeeping account of the NYS Democrats which spent millions of dollars running

television advertisements featuring the Governor selling New Yorkers on his agenda accounted for 40% of the

total money raised from this list of mega-donors.

Rank Recipient Total Received1 NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE (HOUSEKEEPING) $6,022,988.58

2 ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC. $5,237,408.73

3 NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (DACC) $1,606,400.00

4 NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE $1,489,050.00

5 SCHNEIDERMAN 2014 $1,306,492.39

6 NYS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (NYS DSCC) $1,070,600.00

7

NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE -

HOUSEKEEPING $1,067,651.17

8 NEW YORK REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING $791,700.00

9 WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC. $754,892.32

10 DINAPOLI 2014 $718,969.00

1These numbers only reflect donations made to statewide candidates, legislative candidates, statewide political parties, or

leadership PACs maintained by state legislators. Several donors on this list donated substantial amounts of money to Super

PACs involved in 2013 elections in New York City; these totals are not included. The numbers in this report were based on

what was reported by these committees. Donations to committees who filed their January 15th

disclosure reports more

than two weeks late are excluded. It is possible that some of these numbers could actually be larger, since we have not

been able to identify every single vaguely-titled LLC that has donated to candidates in New York.


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170 Donors of $50,000 or more to State-Level Candidates or Parties in 2013

Rank Donor Total Donated Largest Recipient

1

SIMONS, JAMES AND

MARILYN2 $1,156,500.00

$1,000,000: NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

(HOUSEKEEPING)

2 LEONARD LITWIN

3

$1,013,200.00 $375,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

3 SOROS, GEORGE $760,000.00

$750,000: NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

(HOUSEKEEPING)

4 1199 $733,500.00 $190,200: WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC.

5 NYSUT $717,343.00

$102,300: NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE (DACC); NYS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE (NYS DSCC)

6 GNYHA $686,388.58

$201,688.58: NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

(HOUSEKEEPING)

7

TRIAL LAWYERS

ASSOCIATION $578,710.00


COMMITTEE (DACC); NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE

8 TIME WARNER $558,912.52


(HOUSEKEEPING)

9 EMPIRE DENTAL $453,250.00



COMMITTEE

10

BROOKFIELD FINANCIAL

AND THEIR HOLDINGS $427,250.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

11

HEALTHCARE

ASSOCIATION OF NEW

YORK $380,875.00

$110,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING

12

HOSPITALS INSURANCE

COMPANY, INC. $371,500.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

13

NYS CORRECTION

OFFICERS PBA $358,777.22


COMMITTEE (DACC)

14 CABLEVISION $354,097.60


(HOUSEKEEPING)

15

UNITED FEDERATION

OF TEACHERS $347,800.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

16

NY HOTEL AND MOTEL

TRADES COUNCIL $329,200.00 $129,500: WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC.

17

TISHMAN SPEYER

DEVELOPMENT LLC $318,300.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

2While family members can obviously donate independently of each other, they usually share common financial interests.

Names of immediate family members were merged if there is evidence (such as a history of donations to the same

candidates or contributions made from the same checking accounts) that their contributions have frequently been

coordinated. In the case of Simons, he would have retained his position at #1 on this list with $1,101,500 even if his wife

were not included in his total.3 In most cases, names that are capitalized appear with the same spelling somewhere in the campaign finance database

maintained by the Board of Elections. Names that appear in sentence case were created by the author to help identify

donors whose identities are obfuscated by vaguely-named LLCs or PACs.


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18

EXTELL DEVELOPMENT

+ Gary Barnett $315,000.00 $200,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

19 AT&T $309,725.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

20

CORRECTION OFFICERS

BENEVOLENT ASSN $305,750.00 $55,500: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

21

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

FEDERATION (NYS) $292,112.00

$102,300: NYS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE (NYS DSCC)

22 IUOE $291,400.00 $78,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

23 CWA $282,370.00 $124,245: WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC.

24 LEN BLAVATNIK $280,000.00 $150,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

25

RENT STABILIZATION

ASSOCIATION OF NEW

YORK $277,100.00


COMMITTEE

26 AFSCME/ CSEA/ DC37 $275,880.00 $61,350: DINAPOLI 2014

27

RUDIN MANAGEMENT

COMPANY $275,000.00 $150,000: NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

28

ROVT, ALEXANDER AND

IMMEDIATE FAMILY $273,100.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

29

NYS BEER

WHOLESALERS $266,200.00


COMMITTEE (DACC)

30 VERIZON $262,889.40


(HOUSEKEEPING)

31 32BJ $251,800.00 $107,500: WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC.

32

EAST COAST PLUMBING

LLC/ EAST COAST

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

LLC $250,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

32 KOCH, DAVID $250,000.00

$250,000: NEW YORK REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE -

HOUSEKEEPING

34 REAL ESTATE BOARD $244,400.00

$25,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.; NYS DEMOCRATIC

ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE (DACC)

35 PHRMA $233,250.00

$82,750: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

- HOUSEKEEPING

36

BONOMO, ANTHONY &

immediate family $224,167.39 $155,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

37

NEW YORK GAMING

ASSOCIATION $218,488.10


COMMITTEE HOUSEKEEPING (DACC)

38

PHYSICIANS

RECIPROCAL INSURERS $216,300.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

39

NORTHEAST REGIONAL

COUNCIL OF

CARPENTERS and locals $213,500.00

$75,000: NYS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

(NYS DSCC)

40

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF

THE STATE OF NEW

YORK $213,024.68



COMMITTEE

41 NEW YORK STATE $211,485.00 $43,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE


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TROOPERS PAC

42 NYS AFL-CIO $209,700.00


COMMITTEE (DACC)

43

NYS ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS $209,012.56


(NYS DSCC); NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE

44

JOHN & MARGO

CATSIMATIDAS AND

HOLDINGS $203,400.00 $88,500: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

45 COX JR., HOWARD $200,000.00


HOUSEKEEPING

46

NYS FUNERAL

DIRECORTORS

ASSOCIATION $198,675.00 $40,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

47 Peter Kalikow $192,500.00 $75,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

48

MASON TENDERS

DISTRICT COUNCIL OF

GREATER NEW YORK $189,850.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

49 NYS LABORERS' PAC $183,800.00 $34,800: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

50 EDUCATIONAL FUND $180,610.00


COMMITTEE (DACC)

51 CHARMER SUNBELT $179,500.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

52 TEAMSTERS $177,075.00

$41,650: WORKING FAMILIES PARTY CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE

53 JOYCE, CHARLES $174,000.00


REPORTING

54 UFCW/ RWDSU $170,937.00


COMMITTEE

55 MCINERNEY, THOMAS $170,000.00


COMMITTEE

56

NEW YORK STATE PIPE

TRADES ASSOCIATION $169,800.00 $65,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

57

MALKIN, ANTHONY and

Larrymae Partners LLC $165,800.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

58 IBEW $159,998.00 $19,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

59

WILSON ELSER

MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN

AND DICKER LLP $150,954.89 $25,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

60NEW YORKERS FORAFFORDABLE HOUSING $149,350.00

$102000: NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE(HOUSEKEEPING)

61

BRAMSON, OREN and

MARY $146,600.00 $144600: NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

62 COMCAST/ NBC $145,700.00

$100000: NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

(HOUSEKEEPING)

63

METROPOLITAN

PACKAGE STORE $135,000.00 $35,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.


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ASSOCIATION INC.

64 SCHWARTZ, BERNARD $135,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

65

TISHMAN, DAN AND

SHERYL, and Tishman

Realty & Construction $134,100.00 $99,100: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

66 Enterprise Holdings $132,715.98 $25,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

67

COCA-COLA COMPANY

(THE) $132,100.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

68

ANHEUSER-BUSCH

COMPANIES, INC. $131,850.00 $25,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

69 RIKLIS, IRA $130,000.00 $55,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

69

THE WITKOFF GROUP,

LLC $130,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

71 RELATED COMPANIES $128,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

72

RONALD PERELMAN,

ANNA CHAPMAN, AND

HOLDINGS $123,413.00 $122,918: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

73 HINMAN STRAUB $122,275.00 $20,700: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

74

NEW YORK

ANESTHESIOLOGISTS

PAC $121,050.00 $25,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

75 GENERAL ELECTRIC $115,500.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

76 UAW $115,120.00 $63,850: WORKING FAMILIES PARTY, INC.

77 KATZ, ADAM & Holdings $114,842.00 $111,542: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

78

FRANK + RITA

CASTAGNA $113,350.00 $60,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

79

COUNCIL OF

ADMINISTRATORS &

SUPERVISORS PAC $109,641.64


(NYS DSCC)

80

CLOUGH, HARBOUR &

ASSOCIATES, LLP $108,063.30 $100,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

81

LICONY - LIFE

INSURANCE COUNCIL

OF NY $105,209.00 $24,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

82

DUFFY & DUFFY

ATTORNEYS AT LAW $104,500.00 $70,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

83THE DURSTORGANIZATION $102,500.00 $45,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

84

ALVIN BENJAMIN AND

THE BENJAMIN

COMPANIES $101,450.00 $27,500: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

85 RICH, DAVID $100,700.00 $20,000: SCHNEIDERMAN 2014

86 ROSEN PARTNERS $100,300.00 $90,300: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

87 COX, EDWARD $100,200.00 $50,000: NEW YORK REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE -


6/9

HOUSEKEEPING; NEW YORK REPUBLICAN STATE

COMMITTEE - REPORTING

88 BEN BARNES GROUP, LP $100,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

88

KASOWITZ, BENSON,

TORRES & FRIEDMAN

LLP $100,000.00 $100,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

98 KOZA, JOHN $100,000.00



COMMITTEE

91 WAL MART INC $99,500.00


- HOUSEKEEPING

92

Manhattan Beer

Distributors LLC $99,000.00 $25,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

93

UNIFORMED

FIREFIGHTERS ASSN $96,069.18


COMMITTEE (DACC)

94 GEIER, PHILIP $95,000.00


REPORTING

95 PEPSICO $94,591.05 $37,800: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

96

SACKS & SACKS

COUNSELORS AT LAW $93,000.00 $89,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

97 HERTOG, ROGER $92,500.00

$45,000: THE IDC INITIATIVE (INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC

CONFERENCE)

98 CITIGROUP $92,000.00



99

PYRAMID

MANAGEMENT GROUP,

LLC/ Robert and

Suzanne Congel $91,755.00 $85,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

100

UNIFORMED EMS

OFFICERS UNION $90,411.29


COMMITTEE (DACC)

101 KOVNER, BRUCE $90,000.00 $50,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

101 PRICE, ROBERT $90,000.00


REPORTING

103

BROWN, MCMAHON &

WEINRAUB $89,828.39 $37,500: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

104 GREENBERG TRAURIG $89,600.00 $30,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

105

AUTOMOBILE DEALERS

OF NY PAC $88,875.00 $20,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

106GREATER NY AUDODEALERS $87,479.75

$15,000: NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGNCOMMITTEE (DACC)

107

THE RICHMAN GROUP

INC. $84,000.00 $84,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

108

ATLANTIC

DEVELOPMENT GROUP $83,000.00 $60,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

109 CBS CORPORATION $82,500.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)


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110

CONSTELLATION

BRANDS, INC. $82,027.50

$40,000: REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE -

HOUSEKEEPING ACCOUNT

111

NASSAU COUNTY

POLICE BENEVOLENT

ASSOCIATION PAC $81,600.00 $14,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

112 PHARMACY PAC OF NYS $81,349.00


COMMITTEE (DACC)

113

PATROLMENS

BENEVOLENT ASSOC OF

THE CITY OF NY PAC $81,000.00


(NYS DSCC)

114

NEW YORK STATE

BUILDING &

CONSTRUCTION

TRADES INC. $75,800.00 $60,800: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

115

FLAUM, DAVID and

Ilene $75,500.00 $55,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

116 RECHLER, DEBORAH $75,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

117

MEDICAL LIABILITY

MUTUAL INSURANCE

COMPANY $74,599.00 $25,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

118 PFIZER $74,300.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

119

CREDIT UNION

ASSN./CUPAC $74,260.96 $19,750: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

120

PITTA BISHOP DEL

GIORNO & GIBLIN LLC $71,700.00 $37,500: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

121

TRANSPORT WORKERS

UNION $71,275.00


COMMITTEE

122 ALTRIA $71,000.00


- HOUSEKEEPING

123 EMPIRE HEALTH $70,900.00 $10,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

124

ALLSTATE INDEMNITY

COMPANY $70,750.00 $20,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

125

FEATHERSTONHAUGH,

WILEY AND CLYNE, LLP $70,082.09 $6,000: JEFF KLEIN FOR NEW YORK

126

PAUL JOYNT AND

JOYNT VENTURES, LLC $70,000.00 $70,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

127

INDEPENDENT

INSURANCE AGENTS &BROKERS $69,450.00 $8,000: NYS SENATE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE

128 NIXON PEABODY LLP $69,250.00 $62,500: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

129 Tully Construction $69,000.00 $69,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

130

JP MORGAN CHASE &

CO PAC $66,850.00 $25,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

131

BOND SCHOENECK &

KING $65,455.00 $5,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.


8/9

132

UNIFORMED FIRE

OFFICERS ASSOCIATION $63,670.00 $10,300: ALLES FOR NEW YORK

133 DAVIDOFF, ROXANA $60,800.00 $60,800: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

134

EQUITAS COMMERCIAL

REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS

LLC $60,800.00 $60,800: SCHNEIDERMAN 2014

134 KELLY, CHRIS $60,800.00 $60,800: SCHNEIDERMAN 2014

134 MOSTYN, JOHN $60,800.00 $60,800: SCHNEIDERMAN 2014

134 SMITH, ROBERT $60,800.00 $60,800: SCHNEIDERMAN 2014

138

NY SCHOOL BUS

OPERATORS FOR

EFFECTIVE

GOVERNMENT $60,500.00


- HOUSEKEEPING

139 GOSIN, BARRY $60,000.00 $60,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

139

RIZARO MANAGEMENT

LLC $60,000.00 $60,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

141

NEW YORK BANKERS

POLITICAL ACTION

COMMITTEE STATE $59,700.00



142

ZUFFA/ ULTIMATE

FIGHTING

PRODUCTIONS, LLC $58,000.00


(NYS DSCC)

143

KRAMER, DILLOF,

LIVINGSTON & MOORE

COUNSELORS AT L $56,500.00 $45,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

144

ROCKEFELLER,

LAURANCE $55,800.00 $30,800: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

145 JAHARIS, MICHAEL $55,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

145MOUYIARIS, NIKOS andMANA PRODUCTS, INC $55,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

145

SONY PICTURES

ENTERTAINMENT $55,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

148 EDELMAN, MARTIN $54,500.00 $46,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

149

AMALGAMATED

TRANSIT UNION $54,198.00


(NYS DSCC)

150

GENERAL

CONTRACTORS

ASSOCATION OF NEW

YORK $53,561.31 $12,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

151 GUARINO, MARCELLA $53,268.00 $53,268: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.152 Aby Rosen $52,903.23 $52,903.23: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

153 ARGENTO, GINA $52,600.00 $40,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

154 ROTH, STEVEN $52,500.00 $52,500: SCHNEIDERMAN 2014

155

AMERICAN BANKERS

INSURANCE COMPANY

OF FLORIDA $51,500.00

$25000: NYS DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY CAMPAIGN

COMMITTEE HOUSEKEEPING (DACC); NYS SENATE

REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING

156 MARATHON $50,250.00 $40,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.


9/9

DEVELOPMENT LLC/

Mark Soja

156 PIGEON, STEVEN $50,250.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

158 ACKMAN, WILLIAM $50,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

158 BERNSTEIN, JILL $50,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

158 BROMAN, CHESTER $50,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

158 COX, PATRICIA $50,000.00


REPORTING

158 CPV $50,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

158 DIAGEO $50,000.00


COMMITTEE HOUSEKEEPING (DACC); NYS SENATE

REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - HOUSEKEEPING

158 FLANIGAN, PETER $50,000.00


- HOUSEKEEPING

158 LANGONE, KEN $50,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

158 MUGRABE, ALBERTO $50,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

158 ORPHANIDES, JAMES $50,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

158 REVERE, CLAUDINE $50,000.00 $50,000: ANDREW CUOMO 2014, INC.

158

RIVERGATE

DEVELOPMENT LLC $50,000.00


(HOUSEKEEPING)

158 SAUL, ANDREW $50,000.00


REPORTING

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nypirg's list of top donors, recipients in 2013

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