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Circus chief gave $$ to lawmakers for letting show go on

By Dave Wedge
Friday, October 8, 2004

Multimillionaire circus mogul Kenneth Feld and his Hub lobbyist padded the coffers of key state lawmakers who blocked a proposed exotic animal ban, campaign finance records show.

In addition to the $900 lobbyist Robert Rodophele donated to seven legislators on the Criminal Justice Committee this year, Feld himself donated $250 to the committee chairman, Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn).

As Feld's Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus hits the FleetCenter this week, a controversy has erupted amid news of several elephant deaths and videotape of Asian elephants being struck with poles by trainers.

State Sen. Robert L. Hedlund (R-Weymouth) filed a bill that would have made the state the first to ban circus animals, but the measure was killed by the Criminal Justice Committee. Hedlund said he plans to refile the proposal.

Feld, whose net worth has been pegged at upward of $775 million, has paid Rodophele nearly $150,000 over the past three years to lobby against animal welfare bills in the State House, records show.

A registered lobbyist, Rodophele is a major campaign donor who made the maximum lobbyists' contribution of $200 this year to McGee and fellow committee member, Sen. Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy).

The other committee members to whom he donated at least $100 were Rep. Michael Festa (D-Melrose), Rep. Walter Timilty (D-Milton), Rep. James Vallee (D-Franklin), Sen. Robert S. Creedon Jr. (D-Brockton) and Sen. Robert Antonioni (D-Leominster). Feld also donated $250 to the Democratic State Committee.

A Ringling official did not return a call seeking comment yesterday.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=48078