Venable partner, and former Secretary of Transportation, Jim Burnley was quoted in an April 17, 2012 Bloomberg article on campaign donations in primary elections where an incumbent faces another incumbent. Increasingly, incumbents in the primaries are receiving campaign donations from industries they oversee in their committee memberships.
Commenting on the advantages of chairing a Congressional committee, Burnley said, “If you’re chairman of a major committee, people within your jurisdiction are going to be attracted to support you.” Noting that Florida Republican Representative John Mica of Florida, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has received significant support from transportation political action committees, Burnley said Mica “has developed deep and broad subject-matter enterprise” in transportation. In addition, Mica has had many years to build relationships with industry representatives.
Commenting on the advantages of chairing a Congressional committee, Burnley said, “If you’re chairman of a major committee, people within your jurisdiction are going to be attracted to support you.” Noting that Florida Republican Representative John Mica of Florida, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has received significant support from transportation political action committees, Burnley said Mica “has developed deep and broad subject-matter enterprise” in transportation. In addition, Mica has had many years to build relationships with industry representatives.