Washington, D.C. - Public Campaign, a nonpartisan campaign finance reform group, today criticized the appointment of John W. Snow, CEO of the CSX Corporation, as President Bush's next Treasury Secretary.

"John Snow is a poster child for all the things that are wrong about our pay-to-play system of financing campaigns," said Nick Nyhart, Public Campaign's executive director. "His appointment to the Bush Cabinet marks the beginning of a 'perfect storm' of special interest greed and policy paybacks, as a Congress and White House more beholden to wealthy special interests than any in memory comes under pressure to deliver on a host of anti-consumer and anti-environment measures."

"Under Snow's leadership, CSX Corp. has achieved the dubious distinction of being one of the 100 biggest overall campaign contributors to federal candidates and parties, from 1989 to the present," Nyhart added, citing research by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. "CSX has consistently ranked in the top ten among transportation companies in influence buying, giving $5.9 million during that period. Seventy-two percent of that total went to Republicans, including $25,750 to the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2000. CSX is a major proponent of limiting the legal rights of accident victims, including those injured in train accidents, and has also lobbied Congress heavily against being forced to upgrade its lines."

"In addition, Snow himself has made over $75,000 in federal campaign contributions," continued Nyhart. "His vice chairman, Alvin R. (Pete) Carpenter, and one of the company's lawyers and former executives, Marty Fiorentino, were Bush Pioneers, which means they each raised at least $100,000 for the president's 2000 campaign. These men are well-wired to Bush: During the first days after the disputed election of 2000, Fiorentino placed a phone call to then-Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris. Fiorentino told the New York Times that the Bush campaign asked him to serve on its legal team in Florida. Though he declined, because of conflicts with other clients, he said, Fiorentino did help find local lawyers to serve on the team."

"If Snow is confirmed, Bush's cabinet will represent big money contributors more than any in U.S. history," Nyhart concluded. "Hold onto your wallets."