ATLANTA, June 4 (UPI) -- Georgia Republicans are raking in campaign funds and boosting their chances of retaining a majority in the state House of Representatives.
Republican House leaders collected nearly $2.2 million from January 2005 through March 2006, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. That's about $1 million more than Democratic officials raised at the beginning of the 2003-04 term.
The newspaper found that most of the Republicans' contributions since 2004 came from the same business interests that provided money for legislative campaigns when Democrats were in charge.
"When certain organizations or individuals gave money in the past, they did it not because they really believed in the philosophy of that party or the way it was governing," said GOP House Majority Leader Jerry Keen. "They did it because (Democrats) were in control of state government at every level."
Lobbyist Bruce Widener said even lobbyists with Democratic ties are raising money for Republicans.
"Of course, if (the House( went back Democratic, I bet they would be Democrats again," he said.
House Minority Leader DuBose Porter said Republicans have created a system of "not necessarily corruption but of obligation."
