GOLD GIANT PLAYING MORE POLITICS - Easter Politicking, Gambling on Ensign and More in Capital Eye Opener: April 25 http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/04/ceo-4-25-2011.html

GOLD GIANT PLAYING MORE POLITICS: Toronto-based Barrick Gold, which today announced it will acquire Equinox Minerals for $7.8 billion, has also been expanding its U.S. political clout of late.In 2010, Barrick Gold spent more than $700,000 lobbying the federal government -- its third richest year ever -- and employed 17 lobbyists, all but two of whom have previously worked in government jobs. In 2009, the company spent $723,000 on lobbying.The Barrick Goldstikes Mine, a U.S. subsidiary of Barrick Gold, also sponsors a PAC, which became considerably more active during the most recent election cycle. 

In all, 29 federal-level political candidates received donations from the PAC during the 2010 election cycle, while only 15 did during the 2008 cycle. Republican candidates proved to be the primary beneficiaries in both cases.

Furthermore, the Center's research indicates that a dozen members of Congress reported owning Barrick Gold assets in 2009, the most recent year for which federal personal financial disclosure reports are available.Among the dozen: Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), whose Barrick Gold holding was valued between $502,004 and $1.03 million. Also among top congressional investors is gold-loving Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), whose Barrick assets were worth between $100,001 and $250,000, according to personal financial disclosure reports.

[Barrick Gold Corporation http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Barrick_Gold_Corporation  CorpWatch : Barrick's Dirty Secrets http://corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14466%20  CorpWatch : Barrick Gold Strikes Opposition in South America http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12447