McCain scrutinized for Luke AFB deal

Sen. John McCain helped secure the purchase of 122 acres surrounding Luke Air Force Base and the donation of an additional 122 acres from SunCor, which is owned by some of McCain's top contributors, USA Today reported Friday.

According to the paper: "McCain, who has made fighting special-interest projects a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, inserted $14.3 million in a 2003 defense bill to buy land around Luke Air Force Base in a provision sought by SunCor Development, the largest of about 50 landowners near the base. SunCor representatives, upset with a state law that restricted development around Luke, met with McCain's staff to lobby for funding, according to John Ogden, SunCor's president at the time.

The Air Force later paid SunCor $3 million for 122 acres near the base. It was the highest single land transaction of the private lots purchased by the government — three times the county's assessed value and twice the military's estimated value. SunCor also donated another 122 acres. Alan Bunnell, a spokesman for SunCor's parent company, Pinnacle West Capital, said the donation was meant to minimize the company's tax bill and enhance the value of adjacent property it owns."

The article went on to say McCain has received "$224,000 since 1998 from donors connected to Pinnacle West, including $104,100 for his current presidential run."

Read the full article.

However, according to a statement given to Reuters by McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers:

"This project was requested by the Air Force and supported by virtually everyone in AZ (Arizona) politics -- Governor Napolitano, the entire congressional delegation, etc. -- but that's not even mentioned in this story. It's shameful."

Also not mentioned is the fact that Pinnacle West and its employees have also given a great deal of money to many other members of the Arizona congressional delegation.

Pinnacle West was the top contributor to Reps. John Shadegg (R-3) and Ed Pastor (D-4), as well as to former Rep. J.D. Hayworth in the 2001-2002 cycle. In the 2003-2004 cycle, the company ranked as the top contributor to the campaigns of Sen. John Kyl, Pastor again and Rep. Trent Franks (R-2). In both cycles it made the top 5 of most of the congressional delegation.

In addition, Pinnacle West CEO Bill Post and vice president/lobbyist Robert Aiken gave thousands of dollars to a whole host of Arizona campaigns over the last decade. Top totals include $8,700 in contributions to Rep. Shadegg from Bill Post and $6,850 from Robert Aiken to Sen. McCain.

Fundraising totals can be found at the non-partisan OpenSecrets.org.