By Sarah Hearney

Insurance giant Trigon, parent company of Health Keepers Inc., Health Management Corp. and Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield, donated heavily to General Assembly members during the 1999 election cycle.

The billion-dollar insurance company contributed $104,250 to 96 House members and senators.

Trigon gave Republicans twice as much as it gave Democrats:

• $32,200 went to 41 Democratic legislators.
• $71,550 went to 54 Republican lawmakers.
• $500 went to the Legislature’s lone Independent, Delegate Lacey Putney.

Trigon’s top seven recipients were all Republicans:

• Sen. Walter A. Stosch of Glen Allen - $6,500.
• Delegate John H. Rust Jr. of Fairfax - $3,500.
• Delegate Eric I. Cantor of Richmond - $3,100.
• Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr. of Williamsburg - $3,000.
• Sen. John H. Chichester of Fredericksburg - $3,000.
• Sen. William T. Bolling of Mechanicsville - $2,750.
• Sen. Stephen H. Martin of Richmond - $2,750.

Those legislators serve on various committees that deal with insurance and health issues.

For example, Stosch, the Senate majority leader, is on the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

Rust is on the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee. He also serves on the House Labor and Commerce, Finance and Courts of Justice Committees.

Cantor is a member of the House Corporations, Insurance and Banking Committee and serves on its Insurance Subcommittee.

Chichester serves on the Senate Education and Health Committee.

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