By Sarah Hearney

The Committee for Responsible Government is a vehicle for electric utility companies in Virginia to make political donations – a lot of donations: The committee gave $115,050 to 108 legislators during the 1999 election cycle, making it the 19^th-biggest contributor to members of the General Assembly.

Based in Richmond, the organization donates heavily to members of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committees. Members of the House and Senate utility subcommittees also benefit from the group’s generosity.

The top recipient from the Committee for Responsible Government was Sen. Walter A. Stosch, R-Glen Allen, who got $5,000.

Stosch is the Senate majority leader, with considerable influence in the chamber. He also serves on legislative committees that screen bills affecting electric utilities and natural resources.

Stosch is on the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and chairs its Utilities Subcommittee. He also chairs the Senate Commerce and Trade Committee and the Natural Resources Subcommittee.

The Committee for Responsible Government also gave:

• $4,350 to Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-Williamsburg. Norment is also a member of the Commerce and Labor Committee.

• $3,250 to Delegate John H. Rust Jr., R-Fairfax. He is on the House Labor and Commerce Committee and the House Finance Committee.

• $3,000 to Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach. He is on the Senate Utilities Subcommittee and Commerce and Labor Committee.

• $2,500 to Delegate Kenneth R. Plum, D-Reston. He is on the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee and the Appropriations Committees.

The Committee for Responsible Government gave $63,950 to 57 Republican legislators, $49,700 to 50 Democratic lawmakers and $1,400 to Independent Delegate Lacey Putney of Bedford.