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Timken Political Donations Detailed
The Timken Company (USA; NYSE: TKR) last year paid more than USD $1.4 million to lobbyists working Capital Hill, according to public disclosure filings.
Topping Timken's corporate representation in Washington last year was Genesis Group [website] at $1.2 million. Genesis is represented by Mark Benedict, and in 2006 Timken represented virtually all of Genesis' reported $1.52 million income.
Other recipients reported in 2006 were Wessel Group Inc., Downey McGrath Group, and Stewart & Stewart.
2006
Genesis Group LLC 1,220,000
Wessel Group Inc. 160,000
Downey McGrath Group 60,000
Stewart and Stewart 20,000
Total 1,460,000
Mr. Wessel is experienced in trade law, and formed Wessel Group after leaving Downey McGrath in 2006. Wessel Group also includes former ITC Commissioner Steve Coplan. Downey McGrath's main players are former Congressmen Tom Downey and Raymond McGrath. Stewart & Stewart is also Timken's primary counsel for trade issues.
Based in Lovettsville, Virginia, Mr. Benedict describes Genesis:
The hundreds of millions of dollars annually attained for our clients have brought national recognition to the firm for its expertise in obtaining federal monies and contracts for U.S. manufacturers. These services are partnered with an aggressive general government representation program and an international trade law consulting practice.
For his own bio, Mr. Benedict is a Malone College and Akron School of Law grad: recognized as one of the nation's top experts on the appropriations process and assists numerous Fortune 100 companies in obtaining federal funds.
Genesis also represented RBC Bearings in 2004, at $20,000 reported. 2004, however, was also RBC's sole year in which it reports hiring a Washington lobbyist.
To date in 2007, Timken has reported $422,000 in lobbying expenditures. So far, only $100,000 is reported, with Wessel at $60,000 and Stewart and Stewart at $40,000.
Going back to 1998, Timken's reported lobbying expenditures have consistently increased, with notable bumps:
1998 $ 200,000
1999 360,000
2000 661,890
2001 260,000
2002 560,000
2003 971,181
2004 920,000
2005 1,380,000
2006 1,420,000
YTD 2007 422,000
Note the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act was enacted in 2000, and Timken acquired Torrington in 2003.
By topic and agency, the breakdown of lobbying for 1998-2004 is given:
Top 5 topics
Trade 48
Health Issues 32
Labor, Workplace, Antitrust 31
Defense 15
Utilities 15
Top 5 agencies lobbied
House 55
Senate 55
Dept. of Commerce 23
U.S. Trade Representative 21
OSHA 10
Like most old-line U.S. manufacturing businesses, Timken and its executives have been important and influential supporters of the Republican party on both local and national levels. But there is a black sheep in the family.
MoveOn.org, a radical left wing Democratic organization, reported receiving $700, across three separate donations, from Elizabeth Timken during 2006. Ms. Timken listed the Timken Foundation as her address, "my son," as employer, and occupation "mother" [FEC images 26940066810, 26950234665, 26960475857].
The Timken Foundation, founded in 1934, is a separate entity rarely linked with such causes. Rather, it quietly grants several million dollars each year, primarily in support of educational initiatives and the arts. As a result, there are Timken-funded scholarships, endowments and capital projects visible on campuses and in communities worldwide. The Foundation provided $4.28 million to Case Western Reserve University's Institute for Management and Engineering (TiME), and the Joseph F. Toot endowed chair. [full disclosure: Case is this writer's alma mater]. A summer 2007 $607,000 scholarship fund donation helps Stark County students attending Malone College, Mount Union College and Walsh University.
Most recently, the FEC reported 2007 political donations from Robert Timken, Ward Timken, and Ward Timken Jr. totaling approximately $20,000 -- the unsurprising beneficiaries including the Republican National Committee, Stark County Republican Party, American Iron & Steel Institute PAC, and Kirk Schuring Congressional Exploratory Committee.
Mr. Schuring, a candidate for Ohio House district 16, received donations from a who's-who of big-name local business leaders -- among them a laundry list of Timken executives including Ward Timken, Ward Timken Jr., Jim Griffith, Mike Arnold, Jon Elsasser, and Sal Miraglia.
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| ZS3151 bearing | 31 | 51 | 8 |
| ZS2646 bearing | 26 | 46 | 7 |