A coal company whose president helped raise $7 million for a new athletics dorm at the University of Kentucky has been a major contributor to state political campaigns.



The Courier-Journal reports that officials of Alliance Resource Partners and its political action committee have given at least $400,000 to Kentucky candidates and political committees since the beginning of 2005.

Donations have gone to Democrats and Republicans.

The newspaper reports that Joe Craft, Alliance's president and chief executive officer, and members of his immediate family have contributed $169,200 of the total.

Recent controversies, including naming the UK athletic dorm "Wildcat Coal Lodge," have raised questions about the influence Alliance and other coal companies exert over public policy in Kentucky.

Craft told the newspaper in a telephone interview that he neither expects nor gets favors for the contributions.

Information from: The Courier-Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com

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