Massachusetts politicians have benefitted from the deep pockets of embattled Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre, who spent years funneling tens of 1000’s to Democratic political causes earlier than largely switching allegiances to conservative actions, based on marketing campaign finance information.
Federal and native filings element de la Torre’s previous curiosity in native Democrats, together with Gov. Maura Healey, who acquired a complete of $2,000 between two separate donations in 2015 and 2017, when she was in her first time period as legal professional normal, based on state information.
Healey has been extremely essential of Steward Health Care — she requested the corporate to go away the state — after main monetary difficulties got here to gentle that threatened the steadiness of 9 hospitals in Massachusetts.
A marketing campaign spokesperson for Healey declined to touch upon the contributions. But at a press convention final week, Healey roasted de la Torre for what she described because the monetary mismanagement of hospitals in Massachusetts run by the biggest non-public for-profit healthcare firm.
“This is something that was Stewards’ creation and making,” Healey stated. “The fault is with Steward and its management. It frankly disgusts me, as I’ve spoken to earlier, the fact that a particular CEO came and chose to do what it appears he did in terms of how he ran operations, and put patients and providers and our communities at risk.”
Contribution knowledge additionally outlines how de la Torre later grew to become a significant benefactor of Republican efforts, together with a $100,000 March 2022 donation to “Take Back the House 2022,” the Republican PAC targeted on electing conservatives to the House.
He has invested closely within the National Republican Congressional Committee, handing the group at the least $292,000 between February 2016 and March 2022, based on a Herald evaluation of federal marketing campaign contribution information.
A spokesperson for Steward Health Care, Josephine Martin, didn’t reply to an emailed request for remark despatched Friday that inquired about de la Torre’s political actions.
At the native degree, de la Torre gave $43,900 in 2017 to the Massachusetts Victory Committee, a joint fundraising enterprise between the Republican National Committee and the Massachusetts Republican Party that backed former Gov. Charlie Baker, who was a well being care government earlier than serving as governor.
De la Torre handed the Massachusetts Republican Party $10,000 on the similar time, federal information present.
A political spokesperson for Baker, Jim Conroy, declined to remark.
MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale stated the donations had been previous to her tenure.
“I don’t have any comments on donations that were made prior to when I assumed chair,” she stated in a press release.
The earliest federal marketing campaign contribution information discovered on-line present de la Torre donated at the least $4,800 to Martha Coakley, the previous Massachusetts legal professional normal from 2007 to 2015, in November 2009, when she was working for U.S. Senate to succeed the late Ted Kennedy.
The well being care government donated $5,000 to the Massachusetts Democratic State Party in 2009, based on state information. He additionally gave $1,000 to U.S. Rep. Bill Keating’s committee in 2017 and one other $2,400 in 2010, based on federal information.
De la Torre shuttled tens of 1000’s to different Democratic causes, together with $15,200 to the Democratic National Committee in 2010, practically $5,000 to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand the identical yr, a New York Democrat, and greater than $35,000 to an excellent PAC that backed former President Barack Obama in 2011.
De la Torre gave former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown greater than $14,000 in 2012, based on marketing campaign finance information. The Steward Health Care CEO additionally backed former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire in 2015 with a complete of $5,400 in contributions, based on federal information.
More just lately, de la Torre supported U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson, handing the Houston-area Democrat $6,600 final month. He additionally gave 1000’s to a different Texas Republican, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez, in March 2023, based on federal marketing campaign finance information.
He waded again into Massachusetts politics after shifting to Texas, contributing $5,600 to Joe Kennedy III in August 2020, who was working for U.S. Senate on the time towards Sen. Ed Markey. He beforehand gave $1,000 to Kennedy in 2012 throughout a House race, based on federal information.
De la Torre donated at the least $5,200 to Markey in 2013, federal information present.
Markey toured Steward’s Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton Friday with union leaders. He didn’t handle the contribution in a press release to the Herald.
“We are not going to allow Steward and other for-profit companies hollow out our health care system to fatten their wallets while abandoning workers and communities,” the assertion stated. “We’re going to hold them accountable for how their decisions impact public health in order to protect and support patients and providers.”
Herald City Editor Todd Prussman contributed reporting.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”