Union Pacific Trivia:
Can you guess who is the largest private landholder in the United States?
That's right, founded in 1862, the Union Pacific Railroad is the largest landholder west of the Mississippi River and it is second only to the United States government in overall landholdings within the United States. So, I guess that would make them the largest private landholder overall.
Thanks to Governor Matt Blunt, their holdings are now one bridge larger.
Can you name the seven companies, that according to the Washington Post [1], have combined, given over $1.2 million in campaign contributions to Governor Matt Blunt's father, Rep. Roy Blunt (R-K Street), during his career in Congress?
Over the years, seven companies with business before Congress stand out as the most reliable Blunt supporters: Altria, SBC Communications, Union Pacific, Burlington Northern, Verizon, United Parcel Service and BellSouth have together given more than $1.2 million to political committees tied to Blunt.
According to the Missouri Ethics Commission the UP Is generous to Matt too:
| MECID | COMMITTEE NAME | COM | CONTRIBUTOR/ADDRESS/OCCUP | DATE | AMOUNT | MON | INK | REPORT |
| C000426 | MISSOURIANS FOR MATT BLUNT | -- | Union Pacific Corp. Fund PAC 500 13st Nw Ste 340 Washington, DC 20005 | 10/01/2004 | $300.00 | Yes | -- | 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION |
| C000426 | MISSOURIANS FOR MATT BLUNT | -- | Union Pacific Railroad 1416 Dodge Street, Room 801 Omaha, NE 68179- | 10/05/2004 | $1,200.00 | Yes | -- | 8 DAY BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION |
| C000426 | MISSOURIANS FOR MATT BLUNT | -- | Union Pacific Corp. PAC 600 13th Street, NW; Suite 340 Washington, DC 20005- | 06/30/2004 | $1,200.00 | Yes | -- | JULY - COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT |
| C000426 | MISSOURIANS FOR MATT BLUNT | -- | Union Pacific Railroad 1416 Dodge Street, Room 801 Omaha, NE 68179- | 12/02/2003 | $1,175.00 | Yes | -- | JANUARY - COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT |
And here are some conveniently timed contributions by the UP to the Missouri Republican Party:
Here are two contributions to the Missouri Republican Party [2] reported just 8 days prior to the recent special elections, and just one month before Blunt directed his DNR director to give Union Pacific the bridge.
| Union Pacific Railroad 1400 Douglas St. Stop 1560 Omaha, NE 68179- | 02/21/2005 - - - - - 7500.00 | $5,000.00 Monetary | |
| Union Pacific Railroad 1400 Douglas St. Stop 1560 Omaha, NE 68179- | 03/23/2005 - - - - - 7500.00 | $2,500.00 Monetary |