The Timken Company (USA;
NYSE:
TKR)
last year paid more than USD $1.4 million to lobbyists working Capital Hill,
according to public disclosure filings.
Topping Timken's corporate representation in Washington last year was Genesis Group
[
website] at $1.2 million.
Genesis is represented by Mark Benedict, and in 2006 Timken represented virtually all of
Genesis' reported $1.52 million income.
Other recipients reported in 2006 were Wessel Group Inc., Downey McGrath Group,
and Stewart & Stewart.
Mr. Wessel is experienced in trade law, and formed Wessel Group after leaving
Downey McGrath in 2006. Wessel Group also includes former ITC Commissioner
Steve Coplan. Downey McGrath's main players are former Congressmen Tom Downey and
Raymond McGrath. Stewart & Stewart is also Timken's primary counsel for trade issues.
Based in Lovettsville, Virginia, Mr. Benedict describes Genesis:
The hundreds of millions of dollars annually attained for our clients have brought
national recognition to the firm for its expertise in obtaining federal monies and contracts
for U.S. manufacturers. These services are partnered with an aggressive general government
representation program and an international trade law consulting practice.
For his own bio, Mr. Benedict is a Malone College and Akron School of Law grad:
... recognized as one of the nation's top experts on the appropriations
process and assists numerous Fortune 100 companies in obtaining federal funds.
Genesis also represented RBC Bearings in 2004, at $20,000 reported. 2004, however,
was also RBC's sole year in which it reports hiring a Washington lobbyist.
To date in 2007, Timken has reported $422,000 in lobbying expenditures. So far, only
$100,000 is reported, with Wessel at $60,000 and Stewart and Stewart at $40,000.
Going back to 1998, Timken's reported lobbying expenditures have consistently increased,
with notable bumps:
| 1998 | $ 200,000 |
| 1999 | 360,000 |
| 2000 | 661,890 |
| 2001 | 260,000 |
| 2002 | 560,000 |
| 2003 | 971,181 |
| 2004 | 920,000 |
| 2005 | 1,380,000 |
| 2006 | 1,420,000 |
| YTD 2007 | 422,000
|
Note the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act was enacted in 2000, and
Timken acquired Torrington in 2003.
By topic and agency, the breakdown of lobbying for 1998-2004 is given:
| Top 5 topics |
| Trade | 48 |
| Health Issues | 32 |
| Labor, Workplace, Antitrust | 31 |
| Defense | 15 |
| Utilities | 15 |
| | |
| Top 5 agencies lobbied |
| House | 55 |
| Senate | 55 |
| Dept. of Commerce | 23 |
| U.S. Trade Representative | 21 |
| OSHA | 10
|
A number of resources are available to track lobbying and political donations, including:
U.S. House disclosure site
[ requires IBM Workplace Viewer software to view findings ]
Federal Election Commission
Center for Responsive Politics
Center for Public Integrity
Like most old-line U.S. manufacturing businesses, Timken and its executives
have been important and influential supporters of the Republican party on both
local and national levels. But there is a black sheep in the family.
MoveOn.org, a radical left wing Democratic organization, reported receiving
$700, across three separate donations, from Elizabeth Timken during 2006. Ms. Timken
listed the Timken Foundation as her address, "my son," as employer, and occupation
"mother" [FEC images 26940066810, 26950234665, 26960475857].
The Timken Foundation, founded in 1934, is a separate entity rarely linked with such
causes. Rather, it quietly grants several million dollars each year, primarily
in support of educational initiatives and the arts. As a result, there are
Timken-funded scholarships, endowments and capital projects visible on campuses and in
communities worldwide. The Foundation provided $4.28 million to Case Western Reserve
University's Institute for Management and Engineering
(
TiME), and the Joseph F. Toot
endowed chair. [
full disclosure: Case is this writer's alma mater]. A summer
2007 $607,000 scholarship fund donation helps
Stark County students attending Malone College, Mount Union College and Walsh University.
Most recently, the FEC reported 2007 political donations from Robert Timken, Ward
Timken, and Ward
Timken Jr. totaling approximately $20,000 -- the unsurprising beneficiaries including
the Republican National Committee, Stark County Republican Party, American
Iron & Steel Institute PAC, and Kirk Schuring Congressional Exploratory Committee.
Mr. Schuring, a candidate for Ohio House district 16, received donations from a who's-who
of big-name local business leaders -- among them a laundry list of Timken
executives including Ward Timken, Ward Timken Jr., Jim Griffith,
Mike Arnold, Jon Elsasser, and Sal Miraglia.
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