Out of the $55 million the CBC’s political and charitable wings raised from corporate and union contributions, between 2004 and 2008, only a paltry $1 million actually went to the political action committee, The New York Times reported. Where the rest of the money went is unknown, but the CBCF has offered no explanation.
Most damning is the paper’s investigation that revealed the CBCF spent more on a caterer for its annual legislative conference dinner in Washington, $700,000, than it gave out in scholarships to benefit the disadvantaged African American students it purports to help, federal tax records show.
“The bulk of the money [raised] has been spent on elaborate conventions that have become a high point of the Washington social season, as well as the headquarters building, golf outings by members of Congress and an annual visit to a Mississippi casino resort,” the Times story asserts.
The CBCF, while not addressing the accusations specifically, denies wrongdoing and says it “vigorously” defends its programs.
The report also suggests that members of the CBC changed positions that were very detrimental the black community once they were serenaded by major corporations’ big dollars.
“For instance, Representative Danny K. Davis, Democrat of Illinois, once backed legislation that would have severely curtailed the rent-to-own industry, criticized in urban districts like his on the West Side of Chicago. But Mr. Davis last year co-sponsored legislation supported by the stores after they led a well-financed campaign to sway the caucus, including a promise to provide computers to a jobs program in Chicago named for him. He denies any connection between the industry’s generosity and his shift.”
The CBC was unavailable for comment. On their Web site, the CBCF dismisses the Times reports as a “tasteless article.” But the CBCF failed to address where the colossal sums collected are being appropriated.
“While you are aware of the good work of the CBCF, many NYT readers are not aware of our work and the impact of the CBCF programs,” the statement says. “Please know that we are aggressively responding to the NYT’s article and vigorously defending both our work and our stewardship of the funds entrusted to the CBCF.”
The CBCF offered generalities of the programs they say are financed by corporate contributions, including the Center for Policy Analysis and Research, The Leadership Institute for Public Service and the CBCF Economic Empowerment Forums.
–terry shropshire
