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Reiner Beeuwkes

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Reinier Beeuwkes is a scientist, biomedical-pharmacy entrepreneur, and Democratic Party philanthropist. Between 2016 and 2020, Beeuwkes and his wife, Nancy Beeuwkes, have collectively made $1,752,100 in contributions to the Democratic Party and left-of-center organizations. 1 A large sum which has supported organizations that advocate for taxpayer-funded abortions. 2

Life and Career

Reinier Beeuwkes received a bachelor’s degree of science in 1967 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Ph.D. in medical science from Harvard University 3 Beeuwkes co-founded private pharmaceutical company Braintree Laboratories in 1982. From 1982-1987, he also served as Director of Renal and Cardiovascular Pharmacology at Smith Kline and French Laboratories as well as Director of Strategic Planning for SmithKline Worldwide R&D. 4 During this time, from 1970 to 1982, Beeuwkes served within a faculty position at Harvard Medical School. In 2002 Beeuwkes joined pharmaceutical company Ischemix as director. In 2005, Beeuwkes was promoted to President and CEO of the company. 5

Political Contributions

Reinier Beeuwkes has consistently supported Democratic Party candidates and Political Action Committees (PACs) since 1996. 6 In 2020, Beeuwkes contributed $50,000 to the Biden Victory Fund PAC, and $11,200 to the Joe Biden presidential campaign. 7 In 2016 Beeuwkes contributed $43,400 to the Hillary Victory Fund PAC, $10,000 to the Hillary Action Fund PAC, and $8,700 to Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. 8  In 2011, Beeuwkes contributed $20,000 to the Obama Victory Fund PAC and $5,000 to the Barack Obama presidential campaign. 9

Between 2019 and 2020, Beeuwkes contributed to the campaigns of Katie Porter (D-CA) ($5,600), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) ($1,800), Steven Horsford (D-NV) ($1,000), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) ($1,000). 10 Additional races supported by Beeuwkes include Charlie Crist (D-FL) ($2,800) and Lucy McBath (D-GA) ($2,800), among others. 11 Beeuwkes has also made contributions to the failed Democratic Party campaigns of Betsy Londrigan for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District ($8,300), Aaron Godfrey for Ohio’s 16th Congressional District ($2,800), Dani Brzozowski for Illinois’ 16th Congressional District ($2,800), and Nick Rubando for Ohio’s 5th Congressional District ($2,800). 12 Additional failed races supported by Beeuwkes include Gretchen Driskell Michigan’s 7th Congressional District ($1,000), and Margaret Good for Florida’s 16th Congressional District ($1,000), among others. 13

Support for Abortion

Reiner and Nancy Beeuwkes have made considerable contributions to organizations that support taxpayer-funded abortions. In 2018, Reiner and Nancy Beeuwkes made a $600,000 contribution to the Emily’s List Non-Federal PAC. 14 Nancy Beeuwkes’ personal contributions to organizations that support taxpayer-funded abortion are far more extensive. 15

Lobbying Congress

In 2014 the Obama administration decided to stop funding MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center. The administration determined that the center was “outdated and small,” 16  and decided to divert funding to two more modern nuclear fusion centers in California and New Jersey. Reinier Beeuwkes played an active role in lobbying Congress to earmark funding to continue the MIT project despite the administration’s concerns regarding research productivity. In a concerted effort by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), former Senator John Kerry (D-MA), and funding provided by the center-left American Security Project to hire two separate lobbying firms, Congress provided MIT with funding to continue its nuclear fusion project. 17 As the Boston Globe reports, Beeuwkes’s involvement extended beyond voicing support for MIT, as he is a known donor of the American Security Project. 18

References

  1. “Reinier and Nancy Beeuwkes” Bluetent. https://bluetent.us/funding/reinier-and-nancy-beeuwkes/
  2. “Reinier and Nancy Beeuwkes” Bluetent. https://bluetent.us/funding/reinier-and-nancy-beeuwkes/
  3. “Reinier Beeuwkes” Omics – BIOGRAPHY. https://biography.omicsonline.org/united-states-of-america/ischemix/reinier-beeuwkes-1088991
  4. “Reinier Beeuwkes” Omics – BIOGRAPHY. https://biography.omicsonline.org/united-states-of-america/ischemix/reinier-beeuwkes-1088991
  5. “Reiner Beeuwkes” Omics – BIOGRAPHY. https://biography.omicsonline.org/united-states-of-america/ischemix/reinier-beeuwkes-1088991
  6. [1] “Reiner Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=reiner%20beeuwkes
  7. “Reinier Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?committee_id=C00213652&committee_id=C00334037&committee_id=C00431916&committee_id=C00703975&committee_id=C00744946&committee_id=C00746651&committee_id=C00762229&contributor_name=reinier+beeuwkes
  8. “Reinier Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?committee_id=C00358895&committee_id=C00431569&committee_id=C00575795&committee_id=C00586537&committee_id=C00619411&contributor_name=reinier+beeuwkes
  9. [1]“Reiner Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?committee_id=C00431445&committee_id=C00451393&committee_id=C00494740&contributor_name=reinier+beeuwkes
  10. “Reiner Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=reiner%20beeuwkes
  11. “Reinier Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=reinier+beeuwkes
  12. “Reiner Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=reiner%20beeuwkes
  13. “Reinier Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=reinier+beeuwkes
  14. “Beeuwkes, Reinier III & Nancy Contributions to 527 Organizations, 2018 cycle” OpenSecrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527indivsdetail.php?id=U0000003390&cycle=2018
  15. “Nancy Beeuwkes” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=nancy+beeuwkes
  16. [1] Jan, Tracy. “MIT at center of political power play” Boston Globe. June 8, 2014. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/06/07/mit-used-lobbying-influence-restore-nuclear-fusion-dream-after-white-house-sought-stop-funding/T5Q9esYqbZsxIbXUpnEHFN/story.html
  17. Jan, Tracy. “MIT at center of political power play” Boston Globe. June 8, 2014. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/06/07/mit-used-lobbying-influence-restore-nuclear-fusion-dream-after-white-house-sought-stop-funding/T5Q9esYqbZsxIbXUpnEHFN/story.html
  18. Jan, Tracy. “MIT at center of political power play” Boston Globe. June 8, 2014. Accessed July 10, 2021. https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/06/07/mit-used-lobbying-influence-restore-nuclear-fusion-dream-after-white-house-sought-stop-funding/T5Q9esYqbZsxIbXUpnEHFN/story.html
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