Daily News Exclusive: Interesting contributions to Pirro for AG

Pirro coffers foaming over

Breweries toast her with big bucks

BY KATHLEEN LUCADAMO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Beer companies are pouring contributions into Jeanine Pirro's campaign for state attorney general, according to her latest campaign filings.

The GOP golden girl collected donations from Heineken, Coors, Miller Brewing, Barton Beers in Chicago, High Grade Beverage distributors in New Jersey and the Beer Institute, a Washington-based lobbyist, the Daily News has learned.

In the past six months, these beer bigwigs padded her war chest with $9,418, which includes an intimate reception that Heineken hosted for her in Washington in May.

Pirro and several of the beer companies credit her crackdown on underage drinking and DWI cases as Westchester district attorney for the donations.

"We have worked very closely with her on the issue of underage drinking," said Heineken spokesman Dan Tearno.

But anti-DWI groups were disappointed she took the dough.

"If the alcohol industry wanted people to drink responsibly, they'd lose half their income," said Doris Aiken, founder of Remove Intoxicated Drivers of Schenectady.

Pirro has no intention of giving the money back, said her spokesman John Gallagher.

"Last time I checked, prohibition ended," he quipped.

The six companies gave $500 to $2,500 to her campaign - and zilch to her Democratic rivals.

The beer industry is a top contributor to campaigns, particularly to Republican candidates, political experts said.
"Big alcohol buys off politicians so they'll look the other way when the industry puts profits above the public's health," said Amon Rappaport, spokesman for the Marin Institute, a national alcohol-industry watchdog.

And there are issues in Albany that affect the booze community.

Attorney General Eliot Spitzer is running an investigation into the marketing practice of the alcohol industry, specifically wine and liquor companies.

There's also a bottle bill brewing in Albany that would allow unclaimed nickel can and bottle deposits to go into the state Environmental Protection Fund instead of staying with bottlers and distributors.