Did Bill Delahunt, the lobbyist for the Wampanoag Indians’ campaign to gain an Indian gaming legislative carve out, violate campaign finance laws using his congressional PAC to make contributions to Mass legislators?
Former Rep. Delahunt (D-MA) clearly knew he was leaving Congress and heading into the lucrative world of lobbying. He also knew he had to wait before he could start lobbying his Congressional pals, so his bread was going to have to be buttered at the state level. As such, in 2010 Delahunt doled out $11,940 to Massachusetts elected officials campaign war chests from his federal election PAC. Delahunt’s campaign treasurer and brother Robert donated another $4,900 in 2010 (mostly bundled with the PAC’s to the same recipients on the same dates) – bringing the total in to $16,840. Other Delahunt relatives also made contributions, also to the same politicians, on the same dates making the total number even higher.
For example, Senator Therese Murray got the maximum allowable contribution of $500 in 2010 from Delahunt ($300 more than allowed from other lobbyists). Delahunt had never donated to Murray in the past, so why now? Perhaps because he knew he’d be lobbying her on behalf of the Wampanoag’s casino carve out legislation she’s now leading with Governor Patrick.
The Bill Delahunt PAC made 22 contributions in 2010 to Massachusetts state politicians, all but one at the maximum $500 level (exceeding the maximum allowed lobbyist contribution of $200).
| Date | From | Recipient (To) | Amount |
| 4/5/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Driscoll, Joseph R. | $200.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 2/11/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Committee for a Democratic Senate | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | Pol Action Comm. | ||
| 9/30/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Galvin, William F. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 11/2/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Turner, Cleon H. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 12/30/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Kay, Sue | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 11/9/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Peake, Sarah K. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 10/24/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Keenan, John F. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 10/22/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Murphy, James | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 10/5/2010 | Bill Delahunt MA PAC (80784) | Wolf, Daniel A. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road, 2R Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 3/8/2010 | BILL DELAHUNT MASS PAC | Murray, Timothy P. | $500.00 |
| 332 VICTORY RD QUINCY, MA 02171 | |||
| 3/13/2010 | BILL DELAHUNT MASS PAC (80784) | Murray, Therese | $500.00 |
| 332 VICTORY RD NORTH QUINCY, MA 02171 | |||
| 7/21/2010 | Bill Delahunt Mass PAC | Committee for a Democratic House | $500.00 |
| 1147 Hancock St, Ste 212 Quincy, MA 02169-4360 | Political Action Committee | ||
| 10/26/2010 | Bill Delahunt MASS PAC (80784) | Bellotti, Michael G. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 3/19/2010 | Bill Delahunt Mass PAC | Koch, Thomas P. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Rd Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 10/27/2010 | Bill Delahunt Mass PAC (80784) | Atsalis, Demetrius J. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Rd Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 10/1/2010 | Bill Delahunt MASS PAC (80784) | Donoghue, Eileen | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Road Quincy, MA 02171 | |||
| 4/1/2010 | BILL DELAHUNT, JR. COMMITTEE | Flaherty, Timothy | $500.00 |
| 332 VICTORY ROAD NORTH QUINCY, MA 02171 | |||
| 9/10/2010 | BILL DELAHUNT, JR. COMMITTEE | Flaherty, Timothy | $500.00 |
| 332 VICTORY ROAD NORTH QUINCY, MA 02171 | |||
| 5/8/2010 | Committee To Elect Bill Delahunt | Lawton, Patricia A. | $500.00 |
| 332 Victory Rd Quincy, MA 02169 |
In previous seven years Delahunt was not nearly as generous. Prior campaign finance reports reveals Delahunt averaged less than $2,800 in local political contributions annually. Making his 2010 largest a 500 percent increase over past years average.
· 2009 – Seven (7) contributions totaling $2,750
· 2008 – Seventeen (17) contributions totaling $5,700
· 2007 – Ten (10) contributions totaling $4,750
· 2006 – Four (4) contributions totaling $1,700
· 2005 – One (1) contribution totaling $100
· 2004 – Seven (7) contributions totaling $3,100
· 2003 - Three (3) contributions totaling $1,300
Do we really think this generosity has nothing to do with his lobbying efforts on behalf of the Wampanoag’s Indian gaming interest? Had Delahunt started lobbying his Massachusetts state colleagues while still a sitting Member of Congress?
We know the Wampanoag's have a history of violating campaign finance laws and other incidents of fraud and corruption. With funding from their Asian gambling syndicate partners (Genting), the Wampanoag's and their lobbyists were donors to Delahunt's congressional campaign so none of this should come as any surprise.
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