Santorum Heading to Jelly Belly, Home of Conservative Donor
The Center for Public Integrity's Aaron Mehta and Michael Beckel report:
At first glance, Rick Santorum's decision to give a speech at the Jelly Belly Company's factory in Fairfield, Calif., seems a little odd.
But Jelly Belly isn't just any candy maker. The company -- best known for making jelly beans that taste like buttered popcorn and other interesting flavors -- is a major supporter of conservative causes and one of the few corporations to make direct contributions to a super PAC. ...
In September 2010, Jelly Belly became one of the few companies to take advantage of the post-Citizens United campaign finance laws, making a $10,000 corporate donation to Citizens for Economic & National Security, which was created to support California Republicans. ...
Jelly Belly's chairman of the board and owner of the privately held corporation, Herman Rowland, is a frequent donor to conservative candidates and groups.
Since 2009, Rowland has donated more than $100,000 to federal political causes, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. That includes a $10,000 donation to Club for Growth Action, a pro-free market super PAC known for targeting incumbent Republicans seen as too liberal.
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