Jump to full article: Chicago Sun-Times, 2000-08-14
Author: LYNN SWEET / SUN-TIMES WASHINGTON BUREAU
Intro: LOS ANGELES--In a split with the national party, Illinois state Democrats are taking money from a tobacco company to help underwrite costs of entertaining delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
Philip Morris--the parent of Kraft Foods, based in north suburban Glenview--is one of 17 corporate, union or political bankrollers for Illinois contingent parties.
"They offered to help participate in funding some of the activities related to the convention, and we did not turn anyone away," said Steve Brown, spokesman for Michael J. Madigan, the Illinois House speaker and chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.
President Clinton has led an anti-tobacco crusade, and the Democratic platform has planks in it calling for increased efforts to reduce teen smoking.
The Los Angeles Host Committee is not accepting money from tobacco companies or their subsidies, and the Democratic National Committee has the same policy.
"`State parties are free to determine their own policies," said DNC spokesman Rick Hess.
Madigan, Brown and Tim Mapes, who is Madigan's top government and political aide, all said they had no idea how much money Morris was contributing.
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