PAC/527$

<h2>===</h2><div>527 tag?</div><div>see PAC 2</div><div>color below</div>

should i disambiguate PAC from SuperPac?  re disclose donors? 527?
<div>=</div><div><div>no lnx</div><div>
</div><div><div><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/us/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-boebert-gaetz.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/us/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-boebert-gaetz.html</a></div><div>
</div><div>A Super PAC Targets Greene, Gaetz, Boebert and Others on the Far Right</div><div>The bipartisan group will challenge hard-right House Republicans in their home districts, running ads that accuse the lawmakers of holding antidemocratic positions.</div><div>
</div><div>By Nick Corasaniti</div><div>April 20, 2023</div><div>3 MIN READ</div><div>
</div><div>A bipartisan group of political operatives — spanning the ideological spectrum from former members of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus to a Democrat who challenged Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia — has started a political action committee aimed at “stopping MAGA” and eradicating what the operatives call an authoritarian streak among some Republican lawmakers.</div><div>
</div><div>The group, Mission Democracy PAC, will challenge far-right members of Congress in their often deep-red home districts, running ads and messaging campaigns that accuse the politicians of holding antidemocratic and extreme positions.</div><div>
</div><div>Mission Democracy PAC begins with just over $500,000 in the bank, but the advisers say they hope to raise $18 million for the coming election cycle, and plan to spend all of it within the targeted congressional districts.</div><div>
</div><div>Who’s behind the group? The leaders are former Representative Denver Riggleman of Virginia, who once belonged to the Freedom Caucus but has since left the Republican Party and spoke out against conspiracy theories from the House floor; Olivia Troye, a former official in Donald J. Trump’s administration who has been critical of him; and Marcus Flowers, an Army veteran and Democrat who lost heavily to Ms. Greene last year.</div><div>
</div><div>“If we don’t do something now, if we don’t get these extreme MAGA members out of Congress, we stand to lose our very democracy,” Mr. Flowers said in an interview. “It’s time to hold those members accountable, take them to task, attack them in their districts.”</div><div>
</div><div>[Politics Across the United States</div><div>A Moral Quandary: Jewish Democrats defending Israel have often spoken of the country’s democratic values. But defending the current far-right government is proving difficult.</div><div>A Challenge to the Far Right: A bipartisan group of political operatives spanning the ideological spectrum has started a political action committee aimed at eradicating what they call an authoritarian streak among some Republican lawmakers.</div><div>A Tug of War: As Democrats look toward the 2024 elections, a push and pull between progressives and moderates is shaping the party’s agenda, messaging and tactics.</div><div>Broken Legislatures: The dysfunction that drove the ousting of two lawmakers from the Tennessee House of Representatives is increasingly common across the United States, fueled by one-party control of state legislatures, hyperpartisan politics and uncompetitive races.]</div><div>
</div><div>First shots fired. The first ad from the group, a minute-long spot that ticks through several Republican moves to restrict abortion rights, strikingly uses an F-word that is rarely wielded in political advertising.</div><div>“Our government is held hostage by a band of politicians so extreme that only the word fascist describes them,” the ad says.</div><div>
</div><div>The ad then lists its targets: Ms. Greene, described as “the avatar of these extremists,” as well as Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Paul Gosar of Arizona.</div><div>
</div><div>Only the offices of Ms. Boebert and Mr. Gaetz responded to requests for comment. In a statement, Ms. Boebert said that she had “no doubt” that Democrats would target her seat, but that “my policies are right for our district, our state, and our country.” A spokesman for Mr. Gaetz pointed to his large margins in victories in past elections and added that “special-interest PACs aren’t trusted by Floridians.”</div><div>
</div><div>The group has booked what it describes as a mid-five-figure buy for the ad in Ms. Greene’s district, a relatively small opening salvo.</div><div>
</div><div>In an interview, Ms. Troye said the group was focused on defeating “the worst of the worst,” and expected to add more officials to target in the future.</div><div>
</div><div>Uphill battle: All of these House members come from heavily Republican districts, and all except Ms. Boebert and Mr. Perry won re-election last year by more than 30 percentage points. (Ms. Boebert eked out victory by 546 votes.) None of them faced a serious threat in their primary elections.</div><div>
</div><div>In short, while many Democratic voters dream of toppling these pugilistic Republicans, it is often all but impossible.</div><div>
</div><div>Mr. Flowers, for example, raised nearly $17 million in his race against Ms. Greene. She crushed him by 32 points.</div><div>But the group argues that pouring money and negative advertising into such races can still weaken politicians: They are forced to spend more time defending their seats, raising money and campaigning at home instead of traveling the country and expanding their political profiles with endorsements and speeches.</div><div>
</div><div>There’s always money in the banana stand. In liberal politics, there are few better ways to rake in mountains of cash than by targeting far-right Republicans.</div><div>
</div><div>For example, the Lincoln Project, a group of former Republicans that has pumped out stinging ads attacking former President Donald J. Trump and his allies, has raised $118 million since forming in 2019.</div><div>
</div><div>The leaders of Mission Democracy expressed confidence in their ability to raise money.</div><div>
</div><div>“We’re all pretty prolific with our lists, we know a lot of people to call and we all have pretty good reputations for sticking to facts, not fantasy,” Mr. Riggleman said. “We’ve all had incredibly insane real jobs in the real world. And I just think it’s given us a unique way not only to do the mission, but also fund-raise and get the monies that we need to continue.”</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div></div></div></div><div>=<a href="https://www.alternet.org/2022/05/analysis-explains-how-trump-s-dark-money-fiasco-is-so-out-of-control-he-can-t-even-make-sense-of-it/">https://www.alternet.org/2022/05/analysis-explains-how-trump-s-dark-money-fiasco-is-so-out-of-control-he-can-t-even-make-sense-of-it/</a>
A federal inquiry is <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/even-donald-trump-cant-make-sense-of-his-own-dark-money-maze?ref=scroll" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">shedding light on the mysterious financial connection between more than a dozen political committees and dark money organizations</a> aligned with former President Donald Trump.According to The Daily Beast, the issues with the organizations also appear to be connected to former Trump White House aide Corey Lewandowski. In fact, the news outlet reports that: "Anyone who’s taken even the quickest of peeks at Trump’s personal financial disclosures would recognize the pattern."Speaking to The Beast, Brendan Fischer, deputy executive director of the government accountability organization, Documented, weighed in with details about the extent of the questionable nature of these Trump-aligned organizations.Per The Beast, a list of more than 12 political committees and dark money groups has been released. In fact, all of the organizations contain similar names and wording.
<ul class="ee-ul" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; display: inline-block; width: 589.456px;"><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Make America Great Again PAC (converted from the old Trump campaign)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Make America Great Again Action (super PAC)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Make America Great Again, Again! (super PAC)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Trump Make America Great Again (small-dollar joint fundraising committee)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Make America Great Again Policies Inc (a 501(c)(4) nonprofit)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">America First Policy Institute (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">America First Works (formerly America First Policies; a 501(c)(4) nonprofit)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">America First Legal Foundation (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit)</li><li>America First Action (super PAC)</li><li style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Save America (leadership PAC)</li><li>Save America JFC (joint fundraising committee)</li><li>Trump Victory (high-dollar joint fundraising committee)</li></ul>“Typically, former presidents focus on their presidential library, or start a charitable foundation, but Trump is staying in the political game and raising a staggering amount of cash,” Fischer said.“It is worth emphasizing: All of this is totally unprecedented for a former president,” Fischer told The Daily Beast. “Even if Trump kept it simple, and just had one hard money PAC, a single super PAC, and a pair of 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) nonprofits, there would be no parallel with any former president in American history.”The handling of each organization also includes distinctive activity patterns which The Beast has pointed out."His first such disclosure <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/24/7-revelations-from-donald-trumps-financial-disclosure.html" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">revealed</a> positions with more than 500 entities, nearly 400 of which used his name or initials. And Trump has 'organized' the mess in a stultifying Russian-nesting-doll structure—companies within companies within companies. Frequently, one company will be held under multiple Trump companies at the same time, each with stakes in still other Trump companies."It has also been noted that the structure of each entity has given the Trump Organization a substantial advantage for "financial flexibility while making it difficult to follow the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2021/11/08/the-definitive-networth-of-donaldtrump/?sh=53b981aa72dc" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">billions</a> of dollars that Trump, his family, and his accountants move across the organization."Brett Kappel, a campaign finance specialist who also focuses on nonprofit law for Harmon Curran, offered his assessment of the situation.“The central lesson of Watergate is ‘<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QodGxD19_as;!!LsXw!QMOq4spFWjW5idgaIBxthPO_Ti_qYPMIJ4o8m-Tlu3GJZdVCtpvS2fxe7GyaX5988bjG51YSWyw0YWVWUAasHrLMLDm7PDC-%24" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked" style="text-decoration-line: none; opacity: 1; transition: color 0.25s ease 0s, background 0.25s ease 0s, opacity 0.25s ease 0s;">Follow the money</a>,’” Kappel told the news outlet. “And this byzantine structure of different types of legal entities—which are subject to different fundraising restrictions and file different reports with different agencies according to different filing schedules—appears to be designed to make that task as difficult as possible.”=</div><div>
</div><div></div><div>magic words</div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization">
</a></div><div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization</a></div><div>
</div><div> 527-organization or 527 group is a type of U.S. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax-exempt_organization" class="mw-redirect" title="Tax-exempt organization" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">tax-exempt organization</a> organized under Section 527 of the U.S. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Code" title="Internal Revenue Code" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Internal Revenue Code</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Code" title="Internal Revenue Code" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">26 U.S.C.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/527" w="w" skins="skins" vector="Vector" resources="resources" skins.vector.styles="skins.vector.styles" images="images" external-link-ltr-icon.svg="external-link-ltr-icon.svg" b4b84="b4b84" background-position="background-position" right="right" center="center" background-size="background-size" initial="initial" background-repeat="background-repeat" no-repeat="no-repeat" background-attachment="background-attachment" background-origin="background-origin" background-clip="background-clip" text-decoration-line="text-decoration-line" none="none" padding-right="padding-right" px="px" style="background-image: url(">§ 527</a>). A 527 group is created primarily to influence the selection, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomination" title="Nomination" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">nomination</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election" title="Election" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">election</a>, appointment or defeat of candidates to federal, state or local public office.Technically, almost all political committees, including state, local, and federal candidate committees, traditional <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committees" class="mw-redirect" title="Political action committees" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">political action committees</a>, "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_PACs" class="mw-redirect" title="Super PACs" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Super PACs</a>", and political parties are "527s." However, in common practice the term is usually applied only to such organizations that are not regulated under state or federal campaign finance laws because they do not <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issue_advocacy_ads" title="Issue advocacy ads" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">"expressly advocate"</a> for the election or defeat of a candidate or party.There are no upper limits on contributions to 527s and no restrictions on who may contribute. There are no spending limits imposed on these organizations. The organizations must register with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Service" title="Internal Revenue Service" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Internal Revenue Service</a> (IRS), publicly disclose their donors and file periodic reports of contributions and expenditures.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[1]</a>Because they may not <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issue_advocacy_ads" title="Issue advocacy ads" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">expressly advocate</a> for specific candidates or coordinate with any candidate’s campaign, many 527s are used to raise money to spend on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Issue_advocacy_ads" title="Issue advocacy ads" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">issue advocacy</a> and voter mobilization. Examples of 527s are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth" title="Swift Vets and POWs for Truth" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Swift Boat Veterans for Truth</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Media_Fund" class="mw-redirect" title="The Media Fund" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">The Media Fund</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Coming_Together" title="America Coming Together" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">America Coming Together</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_for_America_Voter_Fund" class="mw-redirect" title="Progress for America Voter Fund" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Progress for America Voter Fund</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretary_of_State_Project" title="Secretary of State Project" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Secretary of State Project</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[2]</a><div id="toc" class="toc" role="navigation" aria-labelledby="mw-toc-heading" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); padding: 7px; display: table;"><ul style="list-style-image: none; margin: 0.3em 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#Legal_history" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Legal history</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#Public_opinion" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">2Public opinion</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#2004_election_controversy" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">32004 election controversy</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#Top_20_federally_focused_and_state_focused_527_groups" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4Top 20 federally focused and state focused 527 groups</a><ul style="list-style-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-type: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#2010_election_cycle" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4.12010 election cycle</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#2008_election_cycle" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4.22008 election cycle</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#2006_election_cycle" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4.32006 election cycle</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#2004_election_cycle" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">4.42004 election cycle</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#See_also" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">5See also</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#References" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">6References</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#External_links" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">7External links</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Legal history[</h2>Internal Revenue Code section 527 was enacted as part of Public Law No. 93-625 on January 3, 1975.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[3]</a> In the case of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckley_v.Valeo" title="Buckley v. Valeo" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Buckley v. Valeo</a>, the U.S. Supreme Court attempted to draw a limit on the extent to which campaign finance laws could regulate speech about politics. The Court's answer was that campaign finance laws could reach only party and candidate committees, organizations with the major purpose of electing candidates, or speech that "expressly advocated" the election or defeat of candidates. The determination of whether a group had the major purpose of electing candidates depended, in turn, on whether "express advocacy" was the group's primary activity. In footnote 6 of the Buckley opinion, the Court limited "express advocacy" to words and phrases such as "Smith for Congress," "elect," "defeat," or other specific calls for action to vote for or against a candidate. Thus, organizations could run ads discussing candidates and issues without being subject to campaign finance restrictions, so long as they avoided such express advocacy.The McCain-Feingold law, also known as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, extended certain campaign finance limitations to broadcast advertisements run within 60 days of a general election or 30 days of a primary election if they mentioned a candidate, regardless of whether or not they contained "express advocacy." The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of this provision in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McConnell_v.Federal_Election_Commission" class="mw-redirect" title="McConnell v. Federal Election Commission" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">McConnell v. Federal Election Commission</a>. Based on that decision, many persons urged the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Election_Commission" title="Federal Election Commission" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Federal Election Commission</a> (FEC) to use its regulatory power to extend campaign finance laws to cover these groups. The Commission held hearings in April 2004 to determine whether or not 527s should be regulated under <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance" title="Campaign finance" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">campaign finance</a> rules, but concluded that the law did not cover these independent 527 organizations unless they directly advocated the election or defeat of a candidate or engaged in broadcast advertising mentioning within the 30- and 60-day windows specified by Congress in the McCain-Feingold law. Nevertheless, Federal Election Commission rulings after the 2004 election attempted to extend the reach of the law to advertisements which questioned a candidate's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_character" title="Moral character" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">character</a> and fitness for office off limits to 527s specifically.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[4]</a><ul w="w" skins="skins" vector="Vector" resources="resources" skins.vector.styles="skins.vector.styles" images="images" bullet-icon.svg="bullet-icon.svg" d4515="d4515" margin="margin" em="em" px="px" padding="padding" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="list-style-image: url("><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">On September 18, 2009, the Federal Appeals Court in Washington, D.C., ruled that these groups have a First Amendment right to raise and spend freely to influence elections so long as they do not <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_expenditure" title="Independent expenditure" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">coordinate</a> their activities with a candidate or a party.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-5" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[5]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[6]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">In January 2010, the Supreme Court held that the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections. While corporations or unions may not give money directly to campaigns or coordinate their activity with campaigns, they may seek to persuade the voting public through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_expenditure" title="Independent expenditure" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">independent expenditure groups</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-7" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[7]</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">In July 2010, the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruling in Speechnow.org v. Federal Election Commission struck down fundraising limits on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_expenditure" title="Independent expenditure" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">independent expenditure</a>-only committees, (commonly known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_Action_Committee#Super_PACs" class="mw-redirect" title="Political Action Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Super PACs</a>) which, like 527s, can raise unlimited amounts of money from individuals, unions, associations and corporations to influence elections. Speechnow.org v. Federal Election Commission, 599 F.3d 686, (U.S.C.A. D.C. 2010). These PACs must also disclose their finances to the FEC and cannot coordinate with candidates or political parties. The difference is that the Super PACs must "expressly advocate" for or against a candidate.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-8" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">[8]</a> The Speechnow.org and Citizens United decisions made 527s much less valuable as a medium of political communication, and their use declined substantially in the elections of 2010 and 2012[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">citation needed</a>].</li></ul>In Carey et al. v. FEC – RADM James J. Carey, USN (ret), chairman of the National Defense PAC, along with the PAC and a prospective donor, brought suit after the FEC deadlocked on a 2010 Advisory Opinion Request (see AO 2010-20), in which the PAC sought permission to operate both an independent expenditure PAC and a traditional PAC that could make contributions to candidates and was subject to fundraising restrictions.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-9" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[9]</a> Carey's victory in the court now allows organizations to operate both traditional and "Super" PACs.<h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Public opinion[</h2>A February 2010 poll from the Pew Research Center found that 68 percent of Americans disapprove of the Supreme Court's decision to allow corporations to make expenditures on behalf of candidates during elections. Seventeen percent approve of the expenditures, and 15 percent of respondents said they were unsure.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-10" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[10]</a>An October 2010 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_Television" title="Bloomberg Television" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Bloomberg</a> poll found that 47 percent of Americans say they would be less likely to support a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political" class="mw-redirect" title="Political" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">political</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candidate" title="Candidate" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">candidate</a> if his <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_campaign" title="Political campaign" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">campaign</a> was supported by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising" title="Advertising" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">advertising</a> paid for by anonymous business groups. According to the pollster, 41 percent said that it would not matter, and 9 percent said they would be more likely to back the candidate.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[11]</a><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2004 election controversy[</h2>Although 527 organizations were in common use by the 1990s, in the wake of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartisan_Campaign_Reform_Act" title="Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act</a>, which limited the ability of political parties to raise money, 527s rose to much greater prominence and visibility. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Vets_and_POWs_for_Truth" title="Swift Vets and POWs for Truth" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Swift Boat</a> was one such group, which ran controversial and highly effective ads critical of the 2004 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party(United_States)" title="Democratic Party (United States)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Democratic Party</a> candidate, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry" title="John Kerry" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">John Kerry</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[12]</a> A reported $9.45 million came from just 3 private individuals.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-opensecrets-13" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[13]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-chronoctcontrib-14" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[14]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-tpjfactsheet-15" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[15]</a> On the liberal side, contributor George Soros contributed $23.7 million to 527s, and Peter Lewis of Progressive Insurance contributed another $23.2 million to 527s in 2004.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[16]</a> Prominent 527s that supported Democrats included Americans Coming Together, MoveOn.org, and the Media Fund.Under federal election law, coordination between an election campaign and a 527 group is not allowed. The heavy spending of key 527 groups to attack presidential candidates brought complaints to the Federal Elections Commission of illegal coordination between the groups and rival political campaigns. These formal complaints included:<ul w="w" skins="skins" vector="Vector" resources="resources" skins.vector.styles="skins.vector.styles" images="images" bullet-icon.svg="bullet-icon.svg" d4515="d4515" margin="margin" em="em" px="px" padding="padding" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb" style="list-style-image: url("><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">On May 5, 2004, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_National_Committee" title="Republican National Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Republican National Committee</a> accused <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoveOn.org" class="mw-redirect" title="MoveOn.org" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">MoveOn.org</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Media_Fund" class="mw-redirect" title="The Media Fund" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">The Media Fund</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Coming_Together" title="America Coming Together" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">America Coming Together</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Votes" title="America Votes" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">America Votes</a> of coordinating their efforts with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry_presidential_campaign,2004" class="mw-redirect" title="John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">John Kerry campaign</a>.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">On August 20, 2004, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry_presidential_campaign,2004" class="mw-redirect" title="John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">John Kerry's campaign</a> accused <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_Boat_Veterans_for_Truth" class="mw-redirect" title="Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Swift Boat Veterans for Truth</a> of coordinating their efforts with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Bush_presidential_campaign,2004" class="mw-redirect" title="George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004" style="text-decoration-line: none; background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">George W. Bush campaign</a>.</li></ul>In 2006 and 2007 the FEC fined a number of organizations, including MoveOn and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, for violations arising from the 2004 campaign. The FEC's rationale was that these groups had specifically advocated the election or defeat of candidates, thus making them subject to federal regulation and its limits on contributions to the organizations.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[17]</a><h2 style="margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; overflow: hidden; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.3; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Top 20 federally focused and state focused 527 groups[</h2><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2010 election cycle[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=527_organization&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: 2010 election cycle" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none; white-space: nowrap;">edit</a>]</h3>Some of these listings identify a parent organization that has created a 527 group but that also engages in many nonpolitical activities. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Republican_Party" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Republican Party" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican</a>/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_conservatism" class="mw-redirect" title="American conservatism" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">conservative leaning</a> groups are highlighted in pink, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Democratic_Party" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Democratic Party" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic</a>/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism_in_the_United_States" title="Liberalism in the United States" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">liberal leaning</a> groups are highlighted in blue.A total of $415,784,148 was spent by these organizations alone, $214,580,543 of which was spent by Republican/conservative groups and $201,203,605 of which was spent by Democratic/liberal groups.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-opensecrets.org-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[18]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-State-Focused_527_Committees_Only-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[19]</a><table class="wikitable" style="background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); margin: 1em 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">Rank</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">Name</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">2010 Fundraising</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">2010 Expenditures</th></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">1</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Governors_Association" title="Republican Governors Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican Governors Association</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$117,129,464</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$131,823,354</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">2</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Governors_Association" title="Democratic Governors Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic Governors Association</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$55,362,218</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$64,708,253</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">3</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Federation_of_State,County,and_Municipal_Employees" class="mw-redirect" title="American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$47,068,586</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$46,520,548</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">4</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_State_Leadership_Committee" title="Republican State Leadership Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican State Leadership Committee</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$29,504,912</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$29,911,967</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">5</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Solutions_for_Winning_the_Future" title="American Solutions for Winning the Future" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Solutions for Winning the Future</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$28,233,447</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$28,419,764</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">6</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_Employees_International_Union" title="Service Employees International Union" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Service Employees International Union</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$14,923,663</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$15,534,072</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">7</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United(organization)" title="Citizens United (organization)" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration-line: none;">Citizens United</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$9,211,311</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$9,185,145</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">8</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMILY%27s_List" title="EMILY's List" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">EMILY's List</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$9,001,964</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$10,439,329</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">9</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Votes" title="America Votes" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America Votes</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,883,561</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$11,237,974</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">10</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Legislative_Campaign_Committee" title="Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,684,721</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$10,949,775</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">11</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Republican_National_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="College Republican National Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">College Republican National Committee</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,389,738</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,621,662</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">12</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Education_Association" title="National Education Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">National Education Association</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,394,838</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,503,113</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">13</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">Citizens for Strength and Security</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,127,814</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,216,173</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">14</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Crossroads" title="American Crossroads" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Crossroads</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,700,312</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$1,408,323</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">15</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">Democratic Attorneys General Association</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,365,202</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,206,207</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">16</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOPAC" title="GOPAC" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">GOPAC</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,600,547</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,210,328</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">17</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_Electrical_Workers" title="International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,354,930</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,685,747</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">18</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActBlue" title="ActBlue" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">ActBlue</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,994,165</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,719,415</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">19</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laborers%27_International_Union_of_North_America" title="Laborers' International Union of North America" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Laborers Union</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,578,278</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,361,153</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">20</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,123,743</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,121,846</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2008 election cycle[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=527_organization&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: 2008 election cycle" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none; white-space: nowrap;">edit</a>]</h3>Some of these listings identify a parent organization that has created a 527 group but that also engages in many nonpolitical activities. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Democratic_Party" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Democratic Party" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic</a>/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism_in_the_United_States" title="Liberalism in the United States" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">liberal leaning</a> groups are highlighted in blue, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Republican_Party" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Republican Party" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican</a>/<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_conservatism" class="mw-redirect" title="American conservatism" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">conservative leaning</a> groups are highlighted in pink.A total of $303,309,245 was spent by these organizations alone, $178,397,267 of which was spent by Democratic/liberal groups and $117,112,322 of which was spent by Republican/conservative groups.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-opensecrets.org-18" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[18]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-State-Focused_527_Committees_Only-19" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[19]</a><table class="wikitable" style="background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); margin: 1em 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">Rank</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">Name</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">2008 Fundraising</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">2008 Expenditures</th></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">1</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Governors_Association" title="Republican Governors Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican Governors Association</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$58,942,154</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$44,625,517</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">2</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Governors_Association" title="Democratic Governors Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic Governors Association</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$35,831,960</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$26,376,784</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">3</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$32,867,824</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$30,652,149</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">4</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_Employees_International_Union" title="Service Employees International Union" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Service Employees International Union</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$27,432,667</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$27,839,177</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">5</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Votes" title="America Votes" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America Votes</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$25,959,173</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$24,491,324</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">6</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Solutions_for_Winning_the_Future" title="American Solutions for Winning the Future" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Solutions for Winning the Future</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$22,722,547</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$22,966,088</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">7</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;">Republican State Leadership Committee</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$19,961,136</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$20,981,193</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">8</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change_to_Win" class="mw-redirect" title="Change to Win" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Change to Win</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$13,917,202</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,799,656</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">9</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">EMILY'S List</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$13,659,555</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$12,910,515</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">10</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">The Fund for America</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$12,142,046</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$12,142,044</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">11</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Legislative_Campaign_Committee" title="Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$9,989,627</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$12,665,087</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">12</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOPAC" title="GOPAC" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">GOPAC</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$9,322,764</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$9,407,146</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">13</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">Patriot Majority Fund</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,266,627</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,108,121</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">14</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Republican_National_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="College Republican National Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">College Republican National Committee</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,956,285</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,537,976</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">15</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RightChange.com" title="RightChange.com" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">RightChange.com</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,736,563</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,578,187</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">16</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">Democratic Attorneys General Association</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,704,076</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,441,100</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">17</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNITE_HERE" title="UNITE HERE" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">UNITE HERE</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,480,432</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,957,280</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">18</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United(organization)" title="Citizens United (organization)" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Citizens United</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,477,080</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,016,215</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">19</td><th align="right" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;">All Children Matter</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,031,500</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,368,861</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">20</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Majority" title="Progressive Majority" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Progressive Majority</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,743,779</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,444,825</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2006 election cycle[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=527_organization&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: 2006 election cycle" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none; white-space: nowrap;">edit</a>]</h3>Some of these listings identify a parent organization that has created a 527 group but that also engages in many nonpolitical activities. Democratic/liberal leaning groups are highlighted in blue, Republican/conservative leaning groups are highlighted in pink.A total of $171,045,165 was spent by these organizations alone, $121,665,587 of which was spent by Democratic/liberal groups and $49,379,578 of which was spent by Republican/conservative groups.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-ReferenceA-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[20]</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-ReferenceB-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[21]</a><table class="wikitable" style="background-color: rgb(248, 249, 250); margin: 1em 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">Rank
</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">Name</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">2006 Fundraising</th><th style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(234, 236, 240); text-align: center;">2006 Expenditures</th></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">1</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Governors_Association" title="Republican Governors Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Republican Governors Association</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$28,798,367</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$15,993,537</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">2</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_Employees_International_Union" title="Service Employees International Union" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Service Employees International Union</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$25,053,546</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$28,212,510</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">3</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Governors_Association" title="Democratic Governors Association" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic Governors Association</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$18,526,787</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,508,850</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">4</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Votes" title="America Votes" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America Votes</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$14,391,893</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$14,106,236</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">5</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMILY%27s_List" title="EMILY's List" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">EMILY's List</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$11,776,201</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$11,128,005</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">6</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;">Republican State Leadership Committee</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$11,340,863</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$10,132,510</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">7</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Federation_of_State,County,_and_Municipal_Employees" class="mw-redirect" title="American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$9,599,404</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,336,574</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">8</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_for_Growth" title="Club for Growth" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Club for Growth</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,217,080</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$8,157,383</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">9</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change_to_Win" class="mw-redirect" title="Change to Win" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Change to Win</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$7,061,423</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$2,592,376</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">10</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_for_America" title="Progress for America" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Progress for America</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,175,025</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$13,000,574</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">11</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Brotherhood_of_Electrical_Workers" title="International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,538,113</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,529,067</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">12</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">September Fund</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,230,500</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,950,861</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">13</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Freedom_Fund" title="Economic Freedom Fund" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Economic Freedom Fund</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$5,050,450</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,835,805</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">14</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_Coming_Together" title="America Coming Together" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">America Coming Together</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,494,107</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$6,998,238</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">15</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Legislative_Campaign_Committee" title="Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,365,495</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,928,487</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">16</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">Democratic Attorneys General Association</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,083,576</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$2,630,350</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">17</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(255, 182, 182); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_Republican_National_Committee" class="mw-redirect" title="College Republican National Committee" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">College Republican National Committee</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,720,110</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$10,260,343</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">18</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laborers%27_International_Union_of_North_America" title="Laborers' International Union of North America" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Laborers' International Union of North America</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,688,250</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,762,110</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">19</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Majority" title="Progressive Majority" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">Progressive Majority</a></th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,262,427</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$4,845,486</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">20</td><th align="left" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; background-color: rgb(176, 206, 255); text-align: center;">Bluegrass Freedom Fund</th><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,150,125</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">$3,135,863</td></tr><tr><td colspan="4" style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">As of June 30, 2008. Source:<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-ReferenceA-20" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[20]</a> Source:<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/527_organization#cite_note-ReferenceB-21" style="text-decoration-line: none; background: none;">[21]</a></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 1.6; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">2004 election cycle</h3></div><div>....</div><div>
</div><div>=</div><div>
</div>=greenpeace kingpins:
PACs and Super PACsA PAC is a group of people who pool their money to elect or defeat candidates, or to influence ballot initiatives, or legislation. If a PAC is aiming to affect federal campaigns, its fundraising is regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). PACs influencing state-level campaigns are regulated by the individual states. Federal PACs have been legal since 1944, and must register with the Federal Election Commission as soon as they have raised $1000. Federal PACs must report their donors, donations, and expenditures frequently and the information is promptly published on an FEC web site. There are roughly 5000 PACs registered with the FEC.Most PACs represent businesses, such as the Microsoft PAC; labor unions, such as the Teamsters PAC; or ideological interests, such as the National Rifle Association PAC. An organization’s PAC can solicit up to $5,000 each from the group’s employees or members and can make contributions of up to $10,000 to candidates ($5K each for the primary and general elections) and up to $15,000/yr to political parties.Super PACsA Super PAC, also known as “an independent expenditure-only committee,” is one kind of political action committee (PAC) that came into existence in 2010 following a federal court decision known as SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission.According to the Federal Election Commission, independent expenditures “represent spending by individuals, groups, political committees, corporations or unions expressly advocating the election ...http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/Global/usa/planet3/PDFs/Kingpins-of-Carbon.pdf

=1219 impeach: bossie<div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">axios </div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
</div><div style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">a political organization run by David Bossie, President Trump's former deputy campaign manager, has raised millions of dollars by saying it's supporting Trump-aligned conservative candidates — but has spent only a tiny fraction of that money supporting candidates.</div><div class="StoryBodyroot--2VihO" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: small; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: inherit; position: relative;"><div style="box-sizing: inherit;">Instead, federal records suggest the Presidential Coalition has spent nearly all its money — raised mostly from small-dollar donations — on more fundraising, as well as administrative costs, which include Bossie's salary, according to a <a href="https://campaignlegal.org/document/can-i-count-you-how-presidential-coalition-has-capitalized-its-leaders-ties-president-and" class="StoryBodylink--10w8x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: inherit; background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(0, 141, 200), rgb(0, 141, 200)); background-position: 0px 95%; background-size: 1px 1px; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; touch-action: manipulation; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.15em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.15em 0px;">new report produced by the Campaign Legal Center</a> (CLC) in collaboration with Axios.</div><div id="hidden-3bf22829-8a89-4a10-84b7-7310e02c2ef2" class="" aria-hidden="false" aria-expanded="true" style="box-sizing: inherit; padding-bottom: 65px;"><div style="box-sizing: inherit;"><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">The group's mailers and ads, obtained by Axios and reviewed by CLC, a campaign finance watchdog, repeatedly stress Bossie's relationship to Trump. Contributions to the organization increased after Trump's presidential victory and then skyrocketed in 2018.</li><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">[nice grapf on viz scam eg 1006 penn ave]</li><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">raphic: Harry Stevens/Axios</li></ul>A senior Trump administration official told Axios: "The problem the president is going to have with this is 1) he does not like when people are perceived to be profiting off of him, and 2) these are not max out donors. This is money that many likely think is going towards the president's re-election effort when it is not. So effectively every dollar groups like Bossie's and similar groups raise is a dollar the campaign does not."<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Despite no longer working for the Trump campaign, Bossie is still close to the president. Bossie flew with him on Air Force One in March to a rally in Michigan.</li><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">The Trump campaign declined to comment.</li></ul>Why it matters: "There is a cottage industry of groups targeting vulnerable communities with self-serving borderline scams," CLC writes in <a href="https://campaignlegal.org/document/profiting-proximity-report-presidential-coalitions-misleading-fundraising-practices" class="StoryBodylink--10w8x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: inherit; background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(0, 141, 200), rgb(0, 141, 200)); background-position: 0px 95%; background-size: 1px 1px; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; touch-action: manipulation; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.15em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.15em 0px;">its analysis</a>. "What sets the Presidential Coalition apart is that it is explicitly — and successfully — capitalizing on Bossie's connection with the president of the United States."<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">In response, Bossie called our story "fake news brought to you by a collaboration of the biased liberal media and unabashed left-wing activists."</li><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">In a long statement, he charged that CLC cannot fairly assess his organization because the group has a "conflict of interest" because it "is a highly vocal and fierce critic of the landmark Citizens United v. FEC case." (Bossie runs Citizens United.) You can read Bossie's <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5988785-TPC-Statement-in-Reply-to-Axios.html" class="StoryBodylink--10w8x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: inherit; background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(0, 141, 200), rgb(0, 141, 200)); background-position: 0px 95%; background-size: 1px 1px; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; touch-action: manipulation; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.15em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.15em 0px;">full statement here</a>.</li><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Bossie also said the analysis "totally ignores the legitimate staff, infrastructure and other political activity costs associated with the organization’s work," adding that "it is expensive to raise substantial amounts in small donor contributions using direct mail, digital, and telemarketing."</li></ul>Details: On<a href="http://presidentialcoalition.com/about-us/farm-team/" class="StoryBodylink--10w8x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: inherit; background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(0, 141, 200), rgb(0, 141, 200)); background-position: 0px 95%; background-size: 1px 1px; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; touch-action: manipulation; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.15em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.15em 0px;"> its website</a>, The Presidential Coalition says it has been "dedicated to identifying and supporting conservative candidates running for office at the state and local levels of government" since its founding in 2005.<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">The group's fundraising appeals also urge supporters to "grow the Republican 'farm team'" and "train and prepare conservative candidates to run and win in local elections."</li></ul>But based on the 527 organization's IRS data, just $425,442 (or 3%) of the $15.4 million it spent during 2017 and 2018 went to direct political activity, which CLC defines as "direct donations to candidates or political committees, and a small number of state-level candidate ads."<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">"There is no question that the money spent on programming is well below anything someone in the industry would consider a legitimate amount," said Walter Lukens, CEO of the Lukens Company, a direct response marketing agency.</li></ul>At least $445,972 was spent on apparent book purchases. Copies of the Presidential Coalition's direct mailers — which Axios obtained and shared with CLC — show the organization offered people who donated above a certain amount (usually $45) a copy of one of Bossie's books, "Trump's Enemies."<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Bossie's response on the books: "In 2018, TPC spent a small amount on Trump's Enemies. The bulk of the book premiums, however, where [sic] for copies of Trump's America, which was authored by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. TPC members are very excited to receive these books and DVDs."</li></ul><div class="Embedroot--xU4tk" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; width: 848px; margin: 35px auto;"><figure style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; width: 848px;"><div data-type="axios-visual" class="EmbedembedContainer--2z7Wi block-20kvb lazyloaded" data-slug="av-2019-04-17-pc-sankey-U2ZQH" data-url="https://graphics.axios.com/2019-04-17-pc-sankey/index.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 0.2s ease 0s; text-align: center;"><div id="av-2019-04-17-pc-sankey-U2ZQH" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%;"><figcaption style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem; color: rgb(132, 132, 132); line-height: 1.62; padding: 10px 2px; width: 848px;">Data: Campaign Legal Center's analysis based on Presidential Coalition's forms 8872 <a href="https://forms.irs.gov/app/pod/basicSearch/search;jsessionid=xpWqOwbJBFQHgxkeHgZXY1scImqv7qdRcxBaqQC9.-?execution=e1s1&format=" class="StoryBodylink--10w8x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: inherit; background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(0, 141, 200), rgb(0, 141, 200)); background-position: 0px 95%; background-size: 1px 1px; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; touch-action: manipulation; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.15em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.15em 0px;">from the IRS</a>; Chart: Harry Stevens/Axios</figcaption></div></div></figure></div>The rest of the money appears to have been spent on more fundraising for the Presidential Coalition, largely via direct mail and telemarketing, expenses to support those activities (such as postage and donor list cultivation), payments to other groups run by Bossie, and administrative expenses.<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Compare that to the <a href="https://www.rga.org/" class="StoryBodylink--10w8x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: inherit; background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(0, 141, 200), rgb(0, 141, 200)); background-position: 0px 95%; background-size: 1px 1px; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; touch-action: manipulation; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.15em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.15em 0px;">Republican Governors Association</a>, another 527 organization supporting state-level Republican candidates, which spent about 80% of its funds on campaign contributions and political advertising over the same period.</li></ul>Meanwhile, more than $650,000 of the Presidential Coalition’s 2017–2018 spending went to two affiliated organizations also run by Bossie, Citizens United and Citizens United Foundation — 1.5 times as much as the group spent on direct political activity.<ul style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">Those payments included personal salaries for Bossie: In 2017, Bossie earned a $105,541 salary from the Presidential Coalition.</li><li class="StoryBodyitem--1cHYD" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Atiza, Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 1rem;">The remaining expenditures went to overhead and administrative costs.</li></ul>The bottom line: There's a vast difference between what the Presidential Coalition is telling its donors and how it actually spends their money. And as the CLC writes, "Not only do these dubious practices mislead and potentially even prey upon vulnerable populations, but they also drain resources away from more effective political groups" — including Trump's campaign.Go deeper: <a href="https://www.axios.com/david-bossie-presidential-coalition-elderly-donors-7b37f0c1-da94-4313-87bd-552730fea295.html" class="StoryBodylink--10w8x" style="text-decoration-line: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); outline: none; box-sizing: inherit; background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(0, 141, 200), rgb(0, 141, 200)); background-position: 0px 95%; background-size: 1px 1px; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; touch-action: manipulation; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.03em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -0.03em, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.06em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.09em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.12em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0.15em 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -0.15em 0px;">Elderly Bossie donors say they thought they were helping Trump</a></div></div></div>=<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2017/02/freshman-lawmakers-debt/">https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2017/02/freshman-lawmakers-debt/</a>
<div class="entry-content" style="margin: 5px 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pres16/candidate.php?id=N00023864" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none; outline: 0px;">Donald Trump</a> has <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/04/politics/donald-trump-john-kasich/index.html?sr=twCNN050416donald-trump-john-kasich0543pmVODtopVideo&iid=EL" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">said</a>, often and with great pride, that he is “the king of debt.”That’s not a distinction any congressional campaign is gunning for, though, and most manage to avoid it. The median campaign debt for a member of the 115th House of Representatives as of Nov. 28: Zero.But a look at just the freshmen members of the class tells a different story: Their median debt was $73,893. And the 10 most indebted freshmen at that point, detailed in the chart below, had a median campaign debt of about $444,000.<h5 style="margin: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">DATES REFER TO FEC REPORTING PERIODS.</h5>When it comes to winning a first term in Congress, amassing debt is often unavoidable.“For freshmen it just happens, because that’s what you have to do to get elected,” said Meredith McGehee, chief of policy, programs and strategy at Issue One. “Once you’re an established incumbent, you’re not expected to go into debt unless you have a very competitive race.”But all that debt can pay off, as winning brings rewards. Corporate and other political action committees, though they may be reluctant to invest in the campaigns of unfamiliar faces, are often happy to lavish congressional newcomers with attention and money once they’ve secured their seats.“Freshman members can call up these people and say, ‘Hey, I’m new here in Congress, and I know you want to build a relationship with me. Here’s a way to start doing this,'” said Every Voice’s Adam Smith.And PACs may have a preference for the shiny new lawmaker. In the weeks after the 2016 election, that translated to relatively high rates of contributions from <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">PACs</a> to the 10 indebted freshmen as compared to the 10 most indebted incumbents. Between the election and Dec. 31, the incumbents received, on average, contributions from two PACs for a total of less than $4,000. The average for the 10 freshmen, on the other hand, was a total of almost $22,000 from 10 contributing PACs. Excluding freshman Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), who received no post-election PAC money, bumps those numbers up to 11 PACs and nearly $24,000 in contributions.(Note that these values exclude contributions of $200 or less, and omit the handful of refunds issued from campaign committees to PACs for donations given before Election Day.)Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.) received $39,500 from PACs after the election, the highest total among the 10 indebted freshmen. He netted $2,500 from <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00248716" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">Comcast Corp.’sPAC</a>, which gave a combined $15,000 to him and Reps. Trey Hollingsworth (R-Ind.), Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.), Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), John Bergman (R-Mich.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) from Nov. 9 through Dec. 31.But Comcast wasn’t the most generous PAC in the post-election landscape: That honor went to the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the trade group for the cable industry. It gave a total of $21,000 spread out between five of the candidates — all of them Republican.Overall, 64 PACs gave to at least one of the 10 freshmen after the election, for a total of over $218,000. The top seven (there’s a nine-way tie for eighth place):The leading donors were a mixed bag of corporate and <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2017/02/pro-trump-nonprofits-rev-up/" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">leadership PACs</a>, which are formed by members of Congress and used, in part, to donate to other lawmakers to build loyalty and support. Over the course of the entire 2016 campaign cycle, the <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00326439" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">House Conservatives Fund</a>, tied to Rep. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00026627&cycle=2016" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">Patrick McHenry</a> (R-N.C.), doled out almost $297,000 to federal candidates; House Speaker <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00004357&cycle=2016" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">Paul Ryan</a>‘s (R-Wis.) <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2016&strID=C00377689" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">Prosperity Action</a> gave more than $1.3 million. Less prolific was Rep. <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00005656&cycle=2016" target="blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">Joe Barton</a>‘s (R-Texas) <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00340661&cycle=2016" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-decoration: none;">Texas Freedom Fund</a>, which contributed $33,000 to federal candidates throughout the cycle — meaning that it made about 18 percent of its total contributions after the election.The two Democrats in the group of freshmen —  Blunt Rochester and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (Texas) — averaged a lower total of PAC contributions after the election (under $18,000) than did the Republicans (nearly $22,500, which includes Rooney’s $0). With Republicans sweeping Congress and the White House, getting in the GOP’s good graces seems to have been a priority.</div>8/15
<table class="tablesorter tablesorter-default" role="grid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; width: 629px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin: 10px 0px 15px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><tbody aria-live="polite" aria-relevant="all"><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">Ai<a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Air+Line+Pilots+Assn" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">r Line Pilots Assn</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$524,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">53%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">47%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Bankers+Assn" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">American Bankers Assn</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$531,638</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">20%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">79%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Crystal+Sugar" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">American Crystal Sugar</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$632,500</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">50%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">50%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=AT%26T+Inc" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">AT&T Inc</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$753,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">33%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">67%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Boeing+Co" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Boeing Co</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$687,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">40%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">60%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Carpenters+%26+Joiners+Union" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Carpenters & Joiners Union</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$504,200</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">57%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">43%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Credit+Union+National+Assn" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Credit Union National Assn</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$628,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">45%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">55%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Freedom+Project" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">Freedom Project</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$523,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">0%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">100%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=General+Electric" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">General Electric</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$539,500</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">27%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">73%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Home+Depot" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Home Depot</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$543,500</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">24%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">76%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Honeywell+International" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Honeywell International</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$1,079,497</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">34%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">66%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Lockheed+Martin" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Lockheed Martin</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$751,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">33%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">67%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Majority+Cmte+PAC" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Majority Cmte PAC</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$510,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">0%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">100%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Assn+of+Realtors" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">National Assn of Realtors</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$496,050</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">39%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">61%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Beer+Wholesalers+Assn" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">National Beer Wholesalers Assn</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$612,500</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">39%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">60%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Multi+Housing+Council" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">National Multi Housing Council</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$522,500</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">22%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">78%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Rural+Electric+Cooperative+Assn" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$599,575</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">23%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">77%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=New+York+Life+Insurance" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">New York Life Insurance</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$593,000</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">43%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">57%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="odd"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Northrop+Grumman" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">Northrop Grumman</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">$729,700</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">47%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);">53%</td></tr><tr role="row" class="even"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=PricewaterhouseCoopers" style="color: rgb(62, 114, 181); text-decoration: none; background: transparent;">PricewaterhouseCoopers</a></td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">$536,048</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">41%</td><td class="number" style="text-align: right; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; padding: 6px 3px; vertical-align: top; background-color: rgb(239, 239, 239);">59?</td></tr></tbody></table>

crp

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Honeywell+International" target="_parent">Honeywell International</a></div>

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 3px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td></tr><tr><td height="27" bgcolor="#CBD7CE" width="236" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Beer+Wholesalers+Assn" target="_parent">National Beer Wholesalers Assn</a></div>

</td><td height="27" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="27" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="27" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td></tr><tr><td height="15" bgcolor="#CBD7CE" width="236" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Assn+for+Justice" target="_parent">American Assn for Justice</a></div>

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Intl+Brotherhood+of+Electrical+Workers" target="_parent">Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers</a></div>

</td><td height="27" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="27" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="27" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td></tr><tr><td height="20" bgcolor="#CBD7CE" width="236" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Lockheed+Martin" target="_parent">Lockheed Martin</a></div>

</td><td height="20" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="20" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="20" bgcolor="#F6F8F6" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Bankers+Assn" target="_parent">American Bankers Assn</a></div>

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Credit+Union+National+Assn" target="_parent">Credit Union National Assn</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Every+Republican+is+Crucial+PAC" target="_parent">Every Republican is Crucial PAC</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Boeing+Co" target="_parent">Boeing Co</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=New+York+Life+Insurance" target="_parent">New York Life Insurance</a></div>

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Crystal+Sugar" target="_parent">American Crystal Sugar</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Fedn+of+St/Cnty/Munic+Employees" target="_parent">American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Comcast+Corp" target="_parent">Comcast Corp</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Carpenters+&+Joiners+Union" target="_parent">Carpenters & Joiners Union</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=United+Parcel+Service" target="_parent">United Parcel Service</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Machinists/Aerospace+Workers+Union" target="_parent">Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Freedom+Project" target="_parent">Freedom Project</a></div>

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=PricewaterhouseCoopers" target="_parent">PricewaterhouseCoopers</a></div>

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="144" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="75" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

</td><td height="15" bgcolor="#ECF0ED" width="65" style=" border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-color: white;">

<div style=" mso-line-spacing: ;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Deloitte+&+Touche" target="_parent">Deloitte & Touche</a></div>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

===

<h2>heavy hitters:  <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order=A">http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php?order=A</a></h2>

==

energy pac 2012:

<table><tbody><tr><td>Total Amount:</td><td align="right">$34,177,399</td><td> </td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Total to Democrats:</td><td align="right">$8,561,172</td><td>(25%)</td></tr><tr><td>Total to Republicans:</td><td align="right">$25,587,227</td><td>(75%)</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td>Number of PACs making contributions:</td><td class="number">275</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.php?txt=E08&cycle=2012">Electric Utilities</a>: $13,206,203

37% to Dems / 62% to Repubs</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.php?txt=E09&cycle=2012">Environmental Svcs/Equipment</a>: $465,870

53% to Dems / 47% to Repubs</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.php?txt=E11&cycle=2012">Fisheries & Wildlife</a>: $167,612

26% to Dems / 74% to Repubs</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.php?txt=E04&cycle=2012">Mining</a>: $3,471,950

13% to Dems / 87% to Repubs</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.php?txt=E07&cycle=2012">Misc Energy</a>: $1,607,835

46% to Dems / 53% to Repubs</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.php?txt=E01&cycle=2012">Oil & Gas</a>: $15,008,279

14% to Dems / 86% to Repubs</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/industry.php?txt=E10&cycle=2012">Waste Management</a>: $249,650

33% to Dems / 67% to Repubs</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table class="datadisplay"><tbody><tr><td style=" width: 219px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Assn+of+Realtors">National Assn of Realtors</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 1px;">$3,960,282</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">44%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">55%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 219px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Beer+Wholesalers+Assn">National Beer Wholesalers Assn</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 1px;">$3,388,500</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">41%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">59%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 219px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Honeywell+International">Honeywell International</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 1px;">$3,193,024</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">41%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">59%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 219px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Operating+Engineers+Union">Operating Engineers Union</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 1px;">$3,182,887</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">84%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">15%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 219px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=National+Auto+Dealers+Assn">National Auto Dealers Assn</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 1px;">$3,074,000</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">28%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">72%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 219px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Intl+Brotherhood+of+Electrical+Workers">Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 1px;">$2,853,000</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">97%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 110px;">2%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Bankers+Assn">American Bankers Assn</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,736,150</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">20%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">80%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=AT%26T+Inc">AT&T Inc</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,543,000</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">35%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">65%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Assn+for+Justice">American Assn for Justice</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,512,500</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">96%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">3%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Credit+Union+National+Assn">Credit Union National Assn</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,487,600</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">47%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">52%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Northrop+Grumman">Northrop Grumman</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,416,400</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">42%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">58%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Plumbers%2FPipefitters+Union">Plumbers/Pipefitters Union</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,380,550</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">94%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">5%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Fedn+of+St%2FCnty%2FMunic+Employees">American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,279,140</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">99%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">1%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Lockheed+Martin">Lockheed Martin</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,258,000</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">41%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">59%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Blue+Cross%2FBlue+Shield">Blue Cross/Blue Shield</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,177,898</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">33%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">66%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Machinists%2FAerospace+Workers+Union">Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,173,500</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">98%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">1%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=American+Federation+of+Teachers">American Federation of Teachers</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,171,144</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">99%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">0%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Every+Republican+is+Crucial+PAC">Every Republican is Crucial PAC</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,086,000</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">0%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">100%</td></tr><tr><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Teamsters+Union">Teamsters Union</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,053,410</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">96%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">4%</td></tr><tr class="rowTint"><td style=" width: 378px;"><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/ultlookup.php?txt=Boeing+Co">Boeing Co</a></td><td class="number" style=" width: 0px;">$2,044,000</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 41px;">44%</td><td class="pct" style=" width: 48px;">56%</td></tr></tbody></table>

history:  GANGS OF AMERICA

THE REVOLT OF THE BOSSES

Only one problem stood in the way of corporations putting together

a system for deploying political money at the federal level: a

174

Progressive Era law known as the Tillman Act. The Tillman Act originated

in an 1898 scandal in the Republican Party involving Ohio mining

magnate Marcus Hanna, a major player in the party and a fundraiser for

William McKinley. It was Hanna who made the memorable observation,

“There are two things that are important in politics. The first is

money and I don’t remember what the second one is.”

Under Hanna’s direction, the Republican Party systematically extracted

contributions from banks and corporations, each according to its

“stake in the general prosperity.” The scandal led to calls for campaign

finance reform, which went unheeded until 1904, when Alton B. Parker,

the Democratic presidential nominee, charged that corporations were

providing gifts to President Theodore Roosevelt in return for access and

influence. Roosevelt denied the charges, and in his annual messages in

1905 and 1906 he called for campaign finance reform. Under the sponsorship

of Senator Benjamin “Pitchfork” Tillman, Congress began considering

such legislation, which finally passed and became law in 1907.

The Tillman Act banned contributions by corporations to federal campaigns.

In 1947, the Taft-Hartley Act added labor unions to the ban.

On the surface, the 1970s did not look like an auspicious time to

try to undo the ban on the use of corporate political donations. In fact,

corporate donations had a particularly bad image at the time after revelations

during the Watergate scandal that numerous businesses had

doled out money to President Nixon from secret political slush funds. In

one notorious incident, the chairman of Archer Daniels Midland had

walked into the White House and handed the President’s personal secretary

an envelope stuffed with a thousand $100 bills. Eventually, twelve

corporations were shown to have donated $750,000 in cash to Nixon.

Given public outrage over such activities, it was unlikely that the

Tillman Act ban on corporate contributions to candidates would be revoked.

A more sophisticated avenue would have to be developed.

That avenue arrived from an improbable source: the labor movement.

After the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 had banned labor unions from

contributing to federal candidates, labor unions had invented the political

action committee. PACs had allowed unions to get around the ban
 175

on union political contributions by encouraging their members to donate

on an individual basis to a union-sponsored PAC, which in turn made

contributions to candidates. But even after PACs were legalized for

corporations by the Federal Election Campaign Act in 1971 and 1974,

corporations found them of little use because the law allowed them to

solicit stockholders but not employees.

In 1975 the legal status of PACs was finally addressed by the Federal

Election Commission in a little-known 1975 decision known as the

SUN-PAC ruling. Not only did SUN-PAC give the green light to corporate

PACs, it also gave corporations permission to solicit contributions

from their employees and to use their own treasury funds to manage

their PACs.

Prior to the SUN-PAC ruling, the use of PACs had depended on

the rare stockholder who happened to have a high degree of interest in

the political agenda of the company. After the ruling, corporations were

freed to “work” their own employees for contributions. In the mid-

1980s, researchers at the University of Massachusetts and the University

of Maryland began a series of anonymous interviews inside corporations

about how PAC money is raised. The results were revealing. At

some companies, the researchers found no attempt to pressure employees

to contribute to the company PAC. At other companies, the official

stance was “no pressure” but the methods used involved meetings where

employees were repeatedly solicited by their bosses. A typical pattern

was for the head of government relations, one of the firm’s lobbyists,

and the supervisor of a work unit to jointly lead a meeting of that unit’s

employees:

“We talk about the PAC and what it means to the company and

what it means to them as individuals, and we solicit their membership;

if they are members we solicit an increase in their gift.”

Then the employees boss is asked “to get up and say why they

are members and why they think it’s important for an employee

to be a member.”

176 GANGS OF AMERICA

The chair of the PAC insisted that any pressure to contribute came

from the employees themselves, not from their superiors:

“And yet regardless of how many times you say that, there’s always

going to be some employees who feel that you got them

into that meeting to put pressure on. But if they feel pressure it’s

self-imposed from the standpoint of the solicitation. Because

there will be several of us, including myself, who will get up and

say, we want you to be a member and here’s why.”

The researchers concluded that, given the nature of employeremployee

relations, the pressure to contribute to PACs is real, if somewhat

veiled: “If your boss comes to you and asks for a contribution saying

he or she hopes that all team players will be generous, it’s not easy

for you, an ambitious young manager, to say no.”

Not surprisingly, the research found that positions taken by corporate

PACs on legislative issues were not derived by a democratic process

among the employees making the contributions. In every company

surveyed, all such decisions were made by senior management. In effect,

the PAC served as a means for a corporation to make direct political

contributionsthe exact opposite of the intent of the Tillman Act.

After the SUN-PAC ruling, the use of PACs by corporations exploded.

In 1974, labor PACs outnumbered corporate PACs by 201 to

Ten years later, the numbers were reversed, with corporate PACs far

outnumbering labor PACs, 1,682 to 394.

For lobbyists, PACs became a resource to be systematically managed,

with overhead expenses paid for out of company coffers. Making

this resource even more effective was the arrival of organizations devoted

specifically to coordinating PAC activity among corporations.

These included the Business-Industry Political Action Committee

(BIPAC), the National Association of Business Political Action Committees,

and the National Chamber Alliance for Politics. Such coordination

allowed PAC money to be deployed with maximum effectiveness.

PAC money was only part of the picture. Another major source of

corporate money in federal politics was “soft money,” a category of

THE REVOLT OF THE BOSSES 177

contribution made possible by an administrative decision by the Federal

Election Commission in 1978 that allowed corporations, unions, and

wealthy individuals to contribute money to the parties for “party building”

purposes unrelated to influencing federal elections. This money

had to be kept in separate party accounts known as “nonfederal accounts.”

In practice, this money flowed from national parties to state

parties, where it was spent in ways that supported candidates. Although

some of the largest donors of soft money were labor unions, corporations

overall outpaced labor unions in soft money contributions by a

margin of 10 to 1. In 1999, labor unions contributed $33 million in soft

money. Business interests contributed $368 million.

In 2002, spurred by public rage over the Enron scandal, the U.S.

Senate passed the McCain-Feingold bill banning soft money contributions,

and the House passed the similar Shays-Meehan bill. The two

bills were then reconciled as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

(BCRA). The new law offered the hope that the flow of soft money

would be cut off, thereby reducing corporate influence over federal legislation.

But opponents immediately sued in federal court to have it

blocked on the grounds that the BCRA violated the “free speech” rights

of corporations. It was expected that eventually those suits would end

up in the Supreme Court, where the bill faced an uncertain fate due to

the strong possibility that the Court would find it a violation of corporate

First Amendment rights.

But even if the BCRA were to withstand such a challenge, a more

practical problem was the likelihood that corporate political money

would merely be rerouted through political action committees. PACs are

certainly a less convenient way of raising money, since they require a

large amount of logistical attention in order to assemble contributions in

$1,000 blocks. Nevertheless, as had been shown by the entire nature of

the corporate political mobilization since 1971, that sort of logistical

expertise was where corporations, with their in-house organizational

resources, had their biggest advantage in the political process.

So what about a simple, direct approach? Why not simply ban corporations

from the political arenaperiod? Far from being a pie-in-the178

sky proposition, such laws once existed in some states. Consider Wisconsin,

for example. Until 1970, that state had the following statute on

the books:

No corporation doing business in this state shall pay or contribute,

or offer consent or agree to pay or contribute, directly or indirectly,

any money, property, free service of its officers or

employees or thing of value to any political party, organization,

committee or individual for any political purpose whatsoever, or

for the purpose of influencing legislation of any kind, or to promote

or defeat the candidacy of any person for nomination, appointment

or election to any political office. [Wis. Laws, Section

4479a (Sec. I, ch 492, 1905)]

Clearly, the enactment of such a statute at the federal level would

accomplish far more than merely removing corporate campaign contributions

from the political process. If written broadly, it could also stop

corporate political lobbying, corporate media blitzes on referendums,

and corporate influence machines like the American Legislative Exchange

Council. With such legislation in place, corporations could still

send their representatives to testify before legislative committeeson

invitation only. The 60,000 corporate lobbyists who work the hallways

of the Capitola hundred for every Congressman and Senatorwould

have to go home, and the democratic institutions of American society,

including courts, legislatures, and regulatory bodies, would all hang out

a prominent sign: for human beings only.

===

<h2><a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/12/pro-romney-super-pac-surges-to-life.html">http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2011/12/pro-romney-super-pac-surges-to-life.html</a></h2>

<h2><a href="http://www.salon.com/2011/09/29/2012_gop_money/">http://www.salon.com/2011/09/29/2012_gop_money/</a></h2>

<h2>http://boingboing.net/2011/12/14/58-donors-responsible-for-80.html</h2>

<h2>infographic:</h2>

<h2><a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/12/07/money-is-the-dark-matter-of-am.html">http://boingboing.net/2011/12/07/money-is-the-dark-matter-of-am.html</a></h2>

<h2><a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/12/14/how-the-1-of-1-spends-its-po.html">http://boingboing.net/2011/12/14/how-the-1-of-1-spends-its-po.html</a></h2>

In recent weeks, Crossroads and other "super" political action committees have targeted ad spending in key primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire. Crossroads has spent more than $180,000 on broadcast and cable networks in Iowa this month, records show, and super PACs like Make Us Great Again – supportive of Texas Gov. Rick Perry – will spend nearly $1 million there ahead of the Iowa causes in January.

Crossroads GPS is the sister group of Karl Rove-backed American Crossroads, a super PAC that has promised to raise millions this election to defeat Obama...

<h2>huffpo</h2>

<h2>Superpacs</h2>

The 2012 money dump is well underway, and it is massive. The tip of this destructive iceberg is a legalistic gimmick known as the SuperPAC. Authorized by Citizens United, these are super-sized, super-energized, political action committees. Unlike the regulated PACs of yesteryear, SuperPACs can take tens of millions of dollars right out of corporate coffers (as well as from unions and individuals, but corporations are the monster players) and put the whole load directly into ads and other efforts to elect or defeat any candidate(s) they choose.

How big of a load? Just one of these money monsters, Karl Rove's "American Crossroads" raised a whopping $28 million from corporate interests to elect Republicans in last year's elections. But that's a mere trickle compared to the tsunami now headed our way --Rove's Crossroads PAC is presently amassing a democracy-shattering $240 million for 2012.

Every major presidential candidate has at least one of these things sacking up and spending money specifically on their behalf. Rick Perry, for example, has six of them at work. Technically, SuperPACs are "independent" entities that must not coordinate their spending with the candidates they're supporting. This legal prohibition against coordination is absolute. And it's absolutely a farce and a fraud.

Take Perry's top SuperPAC, modestly named "Make Us Great Again," which intends to put $55 million behind the Texas yeehawer's effort to win the GOP presidential nomination. It was created and is headed by Mike Toomey, who was a top corporate lobbyist in Texas before sliding over in 2002 to be Perry's gubernatorial chief of staff. In 2004, Toomey slid back into lobbying, using his tight ties to Rick to become Austin's preeminent corporate influence peddler and a prodigious fundraiser for the guv. Cozy.

This year Toomey helped his buddy set up his presidential campaign, serving as both advisor and fundraiser. So now, he runs the Make Us Great Again outfit, piously insisting that it is entirely separate from Perry's campaign. Hello--the PAC and the campaign don't have to "coordinate," because both are embodied in Toomey!

<h2>graphic: <a href="http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/super-pacs-501-c-groups-chart">http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/12/super-pacs-501-c-groups-chart</a></h2>

----

<h2>humor: <a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/12/02/real-pacs-take-their-names-fro.html">http://boingboing.net/2011/12/02/real-pacs-take-their-names-fro.html</a></h2>

A year ago, you may remember that the Sunlight Foundation launched the <a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2010/12/02/sunlights-political-action-committee-pac-name-generator/">PAC Name Generator</a>. It was a light-hearted project to shed light on how political organizations cower behind a circus of patriotic gobbledygook. Turns out some folks took it rather seriously and have used it to create real committees!

As some anniversary fun, the Sunlight Foundation decided to see how many real PACs matched up with all the possible names from the generator. At first this seemed a rather silly exercise because the generator included some rather unlikely results such as "Honest Workers for Snow Days," "Taxpayers for Twirling Towards Freedom" and the perfectly concise "Just Another Really Really Well Funded Grassroots Organization for Short, Pithy and Informative Names for Political Action Committees."

Yet, to everyone's surprise, there were dozens of matches. In fact, based on filing at the FEC, many of these all-American groups were created after we launched after the release of PAC Name Generator!

</blockquote>

------

<h2>list of PACs <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_action_committees">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_action_committees</a></h2>

<h2>General ideology</h2>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_political_action_committees&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Conservative">edit</a>] Conservative</h3>

<ul>

<li>Arkansas Young Guns PAC - Little Rock, AR</li>

<li>Campaign for Working Families - Arlington, VA</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United" title="Citizens United">Citizens United Political Victory Fund</a> - Washington, DC</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Forum" title="Eagle Forum">Eagle Forum</a> - Alton, IL</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Move_America_Forward" title="Move America Forward">Move America Forward</a></li>

<li>National Conservative Campaign Fund - Washington, DC</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee" title="National Conservative Political Action Committee">National Conservative Political Action Committee</a></li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_the_Builder" title="Tito the Builder">TitoPac</a> - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_the_Builder" title="Tito the Builder">Tito the Builder</a></li>

</ul>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_political_action_committees&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Liberal">edit</a>] Liberal</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActBlue" title="ActBlue">ActBlue</a> - Cambridge, MA</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_American_Action_Fund" title="Asian American Action Fund">Asian American Action Fund</a> - Washington, DC</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_for_America" title="Democracy for America">Democracy for America</a> - Burlington, VT</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoveOn" title="MoveOn" class="mw-redirect">MoveOn.org</a> PAC - Berkeley CA</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Committee_for_an_Effective_Congress" title="National Committee for an Effective Congress">National Committee for an Effective Congress</a> - Washington, DC</li>

</ul>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_political_action_committees&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Republican">edit</a>] Republican</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Main_Street_Partnership" title="Republican Main Street Partnership">Republican Main Street Partnership</a> PAC - Washington, DC</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tuesday_Group_PAC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tuesday Group PAC (page does not exist)">Tuesday Group PAC</a> - Washington, DC</li>

</ul>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_political_action_committees&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Democratic">edit</a>] Democratic</h3>

<ul>

<li>Democratic Advancement PAC (DAPAC) - Seattle, WA</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Democrats_for_Education_Reform&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Democrats for Education Reform (page does not exist)">Democrats for Education Reform</a> - New York, NY</li>

</ul>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_political_action_committees&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Other">edit</a>] Other</h3>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colbert_Super_PAC" title="Colbert Super PAC">Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow</a> - Washington, DC</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_LaRouche_PAC" title="Lyndon LaRouche PAC" class="mw-redirect">Lyndon LaRouche PAC</a> (LaRouchePAC) - Leesburg, VA</li>

<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Citizens_for_an_Operational_Government_PAC&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Citizens for an Operational Government PAC (page does not exist)">Citizens for an Operational Government PAC</a> (COGPAC) - Charleston, SC</li>

</ul>

<h2>SuperPAC</h2>

hightower:

The 2012 money dump is well underway, and it is massive. The tip of this destructive iceberg is a legalistic gimmick known as the SuperPAC. Authorized by Citizens United, these are super-sized, super-energized, political action committees. Unlike the regulated PACs of yesteryear, SuperPACs can take tens of millions of dollars right out of corporate coffers (as well as from unions and individuals, but corporations are the monster players) and put the whole load directly into ads and other efforts to elect or defeat any candidate(s) they choose.

Take Perry's top SuperPAC, modestly named "Make Us Great Again," which intends to put $55 million behind the Texas yeehawer's effort to win the GOP presidential nomination. It was created and is headed by Mike Toomey, who was a top corporate lobbyist in Texas before sliding over in 2002 to be Perry's gubernatorial chief of staff. In 2004, Toomey slid back into lobbying, using his tight ties to Rick to become Austin's preeminent corporate influence peddler and a prodigious fundraiser for the guv. Cozy.

-----

Wealthy Elites' Influence on Elections Grows, Post Citizens United

In the post Citizens United era, the outsize influence of a small group of wealthy donors making "independent" expenditures is not limited to North Carolina, according to a report released this week by Democracy 21, the Campaign Legal Center, and the Center for Responsive Politics. A handful of elite donors are capitalizing on the lawless campaign finance environment to exceed federal candidate contribution limits. Individuals have spent as much as a million dollars supporting Mitt Romney's bid for president, and two million to support President Obama's reelection.

Money in Politics"Super PACs" emerged in the wake of the Citizens United decision, which struck down limits on corporate independent expenditures. Super PACs can now raise unlimited amounts of money from individuals, corporations, and unions, and use it on political ads for or against federal candidates. They are not allowed to donate directly to candidates or coordinate with their campaigns.

In striking down corporate independent expenditure limits, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld limits on individual contributions to candidates reasoning that "the potential for quid pro quo corruption distinguished direct contributions to candidates from independent expenditures." The majority opinion stated "[t]he absence of prearrangement and coordination of an expenditure with the candidate or his agent not only undermines the value of the expenditure to the candidate, but also alleviates the danger that expenditures will be given as a quid pro quo for improper commitments."

The first presidential race after Citizens United, though, reveals that the distinction between direct campaign contributions and "independent" expenditures has been eliminated -- and with it, the idea that corruption follows one but not the other.

In the second quarter of 2011, over 50 individuals donated the legal maximum to Romney's campaign ($2,500), then made around $6.4 million in additional contributions to Romney's "Restore Our Future" Super PAC. Almost half of these individuals gave between $100,000 and $500,000 to the Super PAC, and one person donated $1 million. These donations made up half of the "Restore Our Future" funds.

Nine individuals donated to both President Obama's reelection campaign and his "Priorities USA Action" Super PAC. The nine donors collectively gave $2.6 million to Obama's Super PAC, primarily from Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg, who donated $2 million, and Chicago media mogul Fred Eychaner, who gave $500,000.

"This analysis offers yet more proof that these candidate-specific Super PACs are nothing more than an end-run around existing contribution limits," said Paul S. Ryan, FEC Program Director at the Campaign Legal Center. "The Super PACs are simply shadow candidate committees. Million-dollar contributions to the Super PACs pose just as big a threat of corruption as would million-dollar contributions directly to candidates."

In addition to Super PAC spending, corporations and corporate executives can also launder campaign spending through non-profit "social welfare" groups organized under section 501(c) of the tax code. Non-profits are not required to disclose their donors, preventing the public from knowing the source of a particular message. Last week, certain business leaders denounced this secret spending, and Democracy 21 and the Campaign Legal Center asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate this alleged abuse of the tax code.

Ninety-Nine Percent: Money Out of Politics

democracy not corporatacrocyThe Citizens United decision affirmed that "money is speech," and declared that spending limits violate the 1st Amendment rights of corporations and the uber-wealthy. As the 2012 presidential election heats up and election spending ramps up, corporations and the top 1% will speak louder than everyone else. The money that flows into the 2012 elections will come overwhelmingly from the top one percent -- only a tiny sliver of Americans donate to political campaigns, and the bottom ninety-nine percent who can afford to contribute will have their dollars drowned out by the million-dollar contributions made possible by Citizens United.

And money matters. In modern elections, 9 out of 10 races are decided by who raises more campaign cash. Given this reality, it stretches the imagination to believe elected officials won't be indebted to those deep-pocketed donors who help them get the edge over their opponent.

With average Americans -- the ninety nine percent -- sidelined by a political process and an economy that increasingly benefits only those at the top, they have taken to the streets. It is little wonder, then, that as the nascent Occupy protests grow and gain shape, at least one message is becoming clear: get corporate money out of politics.

<a href="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/10/11057/we-are-99-1-buy-elections-reports-show">http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/10/11057/we-are-99-1-buy-elections-reports-show</a>

...

American Crossroads, the super PAC spearheaded by Karl Rove, is vowing a massive attack ad campaign aimed at defeating President Barack Obama next year. The group reported it had raised $3.8 million during the first six months of 2011.

<a href="http://americancrossroads.org/values">The group proclaims on its website</a> that its mission is to empower "America's citizens" to "take back control of their government." But the new report suggests American Crossroads is anything but a grassroots funded organization.

More than 90 percent of its money this year came from just three billionaire donors: Jerry Perenchio, the former Hollywood talent agent and ex-chairman of the Spanish language television network Univision, whose trust contributed $2 million; Dallas area hotel magnate Robert Rowling, who gave $1 million; and Texas homebuilder Bob Perry, who donated $500,000.

All three have given generously to Republican and conservative causes in the past. Perry, who bankrolled tort reform efforts to limit lawsuits, was American Crossroads' biggest single donor last year, giving the group $7 million....

The big contributions to the two super PACs illustrate the two-tiered system of political fundraising that is now thriving, thanks in part to a series of controversial Supreme Court rulings.

The campaign committees of political candidates — including those now running for president — are limited to so-called "hard money," or contributions of no more than $2,500 each per election from individuals and $5,000 from political action committees, all of which must be publicly disclosed. (The various GOP presidential candidates may disclose their initial hard money fundraising totals as early as this week, when they must report their totals to the Federal Election Commission.)

But thanks to the Supreme Court, the new super PACs can raise as much money as they can from anybody they want — including private corporations and labor unions — and spend it on ads promoting or attacking any political candidates they want. A separate category of groups — non-profit advocacy groups that are often closely linked to the super PACs — can do the same thing, and not even disclose where their money is coming from.

A spokesman for American Crossroads says the outside role of billionaire donors in funding groups like his is the result of the 2002 McCain-Feingold law, which banned large money contributions to the political parties. In the past, said Jonathan Collegio, big money donations would have gone to the political parties. Now, he said in an email, they go to "groups like Crossroads or the left leaning non-party groups. The money is the same; the groups getting the large donations just aren't parties any more."

Still, the two-tiered system infuriates reformers like Wertheimer, who says it has set the stage for an unprecedented avalanche of attack ads next year — much of it funded by billionaire donors, a great bulk of which will never be publicly disclosed. Indeed, fresh signs of just how big that avalanche will be came <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/24/rove-associated-groups-120-million-attack-ads_n_883898.html">last Friday when the leaders of American Crossroads and its non-profit (and non-disclosing) affiliate, Crossroads GPS, said they are aiming to spend $120 million to beat Obama and try to gain complete GOP control of Congress</a>....

<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43541131/ns/politics-decision_2012/t/billionaires-give-big-new-super-pacs/?ns=politics-decision_2012&t=billionaires-give-big-new-super-pacs#.TjrLjmH-vTo">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43541131/ns/politics-decision_2012/t/billionaires-give-big-new-super-pacs/?ns=politics-decision_2012&t=billionaires-give-big-new-super-pacs#.TjrLjmH-vTo</a>

<h2>proto: NCPAC took out McGovern,  Church and Bayh 217</h2>

<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading">National Conservative Political Action Committee</h1>

<div id="siteSub">From Wikipedia,</div>

The National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC; pronounced "nick-pack") was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Right" title="New Right">New Right</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee">political action committee</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a> that was a major contributor to the ascendancy of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative" title="Conservative" class="mw-redirect">conservative</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_%28United_States%29" title="Republican Party (United States)">Republicans</a> in the early 1980s, including the election of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States" title="President of the United States">President</a>, and that innovated the use of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_expenditure" title="Independent expenditure">independent expenditures</a> to circumvent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_finance" title="Campaign finance">campaign finance</a> restrictions.

In 1979 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_%28magazine%29" title="Time (magazine)">Time</a> magazine characterized NCPAC, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Caucus" title="Conservative Caucus" class="mw-redirect">Conservative Caucus</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Committee_for_the_Survival_of_a_Free_Congress&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Committee for the Survival of a Free Congress (page does not exist)">Committee for the Survival of a Free Congress</a> (headed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Weyrich" title="Paul Weyrich">Paul Weyrich</a>) as the three most important <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraconservative" title="Ultraconservative" class="mw-redirect">ultraconservative</a> organizations making up the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Right" title="New Right">New Right</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-Time1979-0">[1]</a>

<h2>Contents</h2>

</div>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#History">1 History</a>

<ul>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#Founding">1.1 Founding</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#1978_election">1.2 1978 election</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#1980_election">1.3 1980 election</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#1982_election">1.4 1982 election</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#Later_years">1.5 Later years</a></li>

</ul>

</li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#References">2 References</a></li>

<li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#External_links">3 External links</a></li>

</ul>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History">edit</a>] History</h2>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Founding">edit</a>] Founding</h3>

NCPAC was founded in 1975 by conservative activists <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Dolan%28US_political_figure%29" title="Terry Dolan (US political figure)" class="mw-redirect">John Terry Dolan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_R.Black,Jr." title="Charles R. Black, Jr.">Charles Black</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Stone" title="Roger Stone">Roger Stone</a>, with help from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Viguerie" title="Richard Viguerie">Richard Viguerie</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_F.Ellis" title="Thomas F. Ellis">Thomas F. Ellis</a>. The group got its start through <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_mail" title="Direct mail" class="mw-redirect">direct mail</a> solicitations. "The shriller you are, the better it is to raise money," explained co-founder Terry Dolan.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-TF-1">[2]</a>

NCPAC became one of the first groups to circumvent the contribution limits of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Election_Campaign_Act" title="Federal Election Campaign Act">Federal Election Campaign Act</a> (FECA) by exploiting the "independent expenditure" loophole permitted under a 1976 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Supreme_Court" title="U.S. Supreme Court" class="mw-redirect">U.S. Supreme Court</a> ruling. Although federal law restricted political action committees' expenditures to $10,000 per candidate, an organization could spend unlimited amounts of money supporting or opposing a particular candidate as long as their campaign activity was not coordinated with a candidate. NCPAC pooled independent contributions in order to make independent expenditures on campaign <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_ad" title="Attack ad">attack ads</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-Time1979-0">[1]</a> Not only did this circumvent campaign finance restrictions, but it prevented candidates from being associated with advertising created on their behalf. NCPAC Chairman Terry Dolan was quoted as saying, "A group like ours could lie through its teeth, and the candidate it helps stays clean."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-TF-1">[2]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-2">[3]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-3">[4]</a> Dolan later said he was describing a hypothetical situation, not NCPAC's actual tactics.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-4">[5]</a>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: 1978 election">edit</a>] 1978 election</h3>

NCPAC's first major target was Democratic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">Senator</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Clark_%28Senator%29" title="Dick Clark (Senator)" class="mw-redirect">Dick Clark</a> of Iowa in the election of 1978. Three weeks before the November 1978 election, incumbent Clark had a 30 percentage-point lead in campaign polls,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-5">[6]</a> but he lost to Republican <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Jepsen" title="Roger Jepsen">Roger Jepsen</a>, 52 to 48 percent.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-6">[7]</a> Clark's defeat was attributed to intense anti-Clark campaigning conducted by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_mail" title="Direct mail" class="mw-redirect">direct mail</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mailgram" title="Mailgram">mailgrams</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaflet" title="Leaflet">leaflet</a> distribution during the final weeks of the campaign, attacking Clark for his positions on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion" title="Abortion">abortion</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_control" title="Gun control" class="mw-redirect">gun control</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_Treaty" title="Panama Canal Treaty" class="mw-redirect">Panama Canal Treaty</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-7">[8]</a> NCPAC took credit for Clark's defeat and was encouraged to expand its efforts in the 1980 election.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-Oreilly-8">[9]</a>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: 1980 election">edit</a>] 1980 election</h3>

Clark's defeat, for which NCPAC took credit, encouraged NCPAC and other allied organizations to expand their efforts in the 1980 election, when NCPAC spent at least $1.2 million.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-Oreilly-8">[9]</a> Four of the six incumbent Democratic Senators targeted by NCPAC in 1980, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Culver" title="John Culver">John Culver</a> (Iowa), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McGovern" title="George McGovern">George McGovern</a> (South Dakota), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Church" title="Frank Church">Frank Church</a> (Idaho), and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birch_Bayh" title="Birch Bayh">Birch Bayh</a> (Indiana), were defeated.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-9">[10]</a> Senators <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Cranston" title="Alan Cranston">Alan Cranston</a> of California and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Eagleton" title="Thomas Eagleton">Thomas Eagleton</a> of Missouri were also targeted, but achieved re-election.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-10">[11]</a>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: 1982 election">edit</a>] 1982 election</h3>

NCPAC hoped to repeat its success in the 1982 election. Initially the group targeted a list of 20 Senators for defeat, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Moynihan" title="Pat Moynihan" class="mw-redirect">Pat Moynihan</a> of New York, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Kennedy" title="Ted Kennedy">Ted Kennedy</a> of Massachusetts, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Sarbanes" title="Paul Sarbanes">Paul Sarbanes</a> of Maryland, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Melcher" title="John Melcher">John Melcher</a> of Montana. The organization later trimmed its target list to five incumbents, and spent $4.5 million in the 1982 elections. However, only one of its targets, Democrat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Cannon" title="Howard Cannon">Howard Cannon</a> of Nevada, failed to win re-election.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-Oreilly-8">[9]</a> Sarbanes was charged with being "too liberal for Maryland," but voters did not respond to the NCPAC message.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-11">[12]</a> Sarbanes made NCPAC's tactics a major issue in his campaign.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-12">[13]</a> Democratic Senator John Melcher, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterinarian" title="Veterinarian">veterinarian</a>, countered a commercial that claimed he was "too liberal for Montana" by running a TV commercial of his own featuring cows. After a shot of "out-of-staters" carrying a briefcase full of money off an airplane, one cow remarked, "Did ya hear about those city slickers bad-mouthing Doc Melcher? One of 'em was stepping in what they've been trying to sell."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_note-Oreilly-8">[9]</a>

<h3>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Later years">edit</a>] Later years</h3>

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Brent_Bozell_III" title="L. Brent Bozell III">L. Brent Bozell</a> succeeded Dolan as the group's head after Dolan's death in 1986.

The organization is based in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria,_Virginia" title="Alexandria, Virginia">Alexandria, Virginia</a>.

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: References">edit</a>] References</h2>

<li id="cite_note-Time1979-0">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-Time1979_0-0">a</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-Time1979_0-1">b</a> <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,947346-1,00.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">The New Right Takes Aim</a>, Time magazine, August 20, 1979</li>

<li id="cite_note-TF-1">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-TF_1-0">a</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-TF_1-1">b</a> Thomas Frank, "The Tilting Yard: Charlie Black's Cronies" Wall Street Journal July 2, 2008</li>

<li id="cite_note-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-2">^</a> <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953584-4,00.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Running with the PACs</a> Time magazine, October 25, 1982</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-3">^</a> The Washington Post, August 10, 1980, p. F1, as cited at <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/73/150.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.bartleby.com/73/150.html</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-4">^</a> <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/73/150.html" class="external free" rel="nofollow">http://www.bartleby.com/73/150.html</a></li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-5">^</a> Richard F. Fenno, Jr., Richard F. Fenno, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=NuZXHrSmy3UC&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Senators on the Campaign Trail</a>, University of Oklahoma Press, 1998 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0806130628" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0806130628</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780806130620" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 9780806130620</a>, page 111</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-6">^</a> Richard F. Fenno, Jr., Richard F. Fenno, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=NuZXHrSmy3UC&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Senators on the Campaign Trail</a>, University of Oklahoma Press, 1998 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0806130628" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0806130628</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780806130620" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 9780806130620</a>, page 114</li>

<li id="cite_note-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-7">^</a> Richard F. Fenno, Jr., Richard F. Fenno, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=NuZXHrSmy3UC&pg=PA119&lpg=PA119" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Senators on the Campaign Trail</a>, University of Oklahoma Press, 1998 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0806130628" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0806130628</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780806130620" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 9780806130620</a>, page 115</li>

<li id="cite_note-Oreilly-8">^ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-Oreilly_8-0">a</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-Oreilly_8-1">b</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-Oreilly_8-2">c</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-Oreilly_8-3">d</a> <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,949626,00.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">No Thunder from the Right</a>, by Jane O'Reilly, Time magazine, Nov. 15, 1982</li>

<li id="cite_note-9"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-9">^</a> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080113140906/http://www.opensecrets.org/pubs/law_bagtricks/loop4.asp" class="external text" rel="nofollow">A Bag of Tricks: Independent Expenditures</a>, Center for Responsible Politics opensecrets.org website, archived January 13, 2008.</li>

<li id="cite_note-10"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-10">^</a> <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,922159-2,00.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">New Resolve by the New Right</a>, by Edwin Warner, Time magazine, December 1, 1980</li>

<li id="cite_note-11"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-11">^</a> <a href="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=234513" class="external text" rel="nofollow">NCPAC's Waterloo</a>, by Chuck Lane, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harvard_Crimson" title="The Harvard Crimson">The Harvard Crimson</a>, September 25, 1982</li>

<li id="cite_note-12"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee#cite_ref-12">^</a> <a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953585,00.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">Attack PAC</a> Time magazine, Oct. 25, 1982</li>

</ol>

</div>

<h2>[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: External links">edit</a>] External links</h2>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://www.namebase.org/main3/National-Conservative-Political-action-committee.html" class="external text" rel="nofollow">National Conservative Political Action Committee | NameBase</a></li>

</ul>

<div class="printfooter">Retrieved from "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Conservative_Political_Action_Committee</a>"</div>

<div id="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Categories" title="Special:Categories">Categories</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:United_States_political_action_committees" title="Category:United States political action committees">United States political action committees</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:New_Right%28United_States%29" title="Category:New Right (United States)">New Right (United States)</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:New_Right_Organizations%28United_States%29" title="Category:New Right Organizations (United States)">New Right Organizations (United States)</a></div>

</div>

<h2>Republican-inclined 527 committees</h2>

The following are some of the 527 committees which are considered Republican-inclined:

<ul>

<li><a title="2007 Conservative Victory Committee" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=2007_Conservative_Victory_Committee">2007 Conservative Victory Committee</a></li>

<li><a title="American Resolve" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=American_Resolve">American Resolve</a></li>

<li><a title="Americans for Honesty on Issues" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_for_Honesty_on_Issues">Americans for Honesty on Issues</a></li>

<li><a class="new" title="Americans United to Preserve Marriage (page does not exist)" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Americans_United_to_Preserve_Marriage&action=edit&redlink=1">Americans United to Preserve Marriage</a></li>

<li><a title="Black America's PAC" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Black_America%27s_PAC">Black America's PAC</a></li>

<li><a title="Black Republican Freedom Fund" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Black_Republican_Freedom_Fund">Black Republican Freedom Fund</a></li>

<li><a class="new" title="Born Alive Truth (page does not exist)" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Born_Alive_Truth&action=edit&redlink=1">Born Alive Truth</a></li>

<li><a title="Club for Growth" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Club_for_Growth" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Club for Growth</a></li>

<li><a title="Economic Freedom Fund" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Economic_Freedom_Fund">Economic Freedom Fund</a></li>

<li><a title="Free the Eagle" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Free_the_Eagle">Free the Eagle</a></li>

<li><a title="Freedom's Defense Fund" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Freedom%27s_Defense_Fund">Freedom's Defense Fund</a></li>

<li><a title="MoveOnForAmerica.org" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=MoveOnForAmerica.org">MoveOnForAmerica.org</a></li>

<li><a title="National Rifle Association" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Rifle_Association" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">National Rifle Association</a></li>

<li><a title="PHforAmerica.com" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=PHforAmerica.com">pHforAmerica.com</a></li>

<li><a title="Progress for America" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Progress_for_America">Progress for America</a> / <a title="Progress for America Voter Fund" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Progress_for_America_Voter_Fund">Progress for America Voter Fund</a></li>

<li><a title="Republican Governors Association" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Republican_Governors_Association">Republican Governors Association</a></li>

<li><a title="Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Swift_Boat_Veterans_for_Truth" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Swift Boat Veterans for Truth</a></li>

<li>The <a title="Leadership Forum" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Leadership_Forum">Leadership Forum</a></li>

<li><a title="The November Fund" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_November_Fund">The November Fund</a></li>

<li><a title="The Trailhead Group, LLC" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=The_Trailhead_Group,_LLC">The Trailhead Group, LLC</a></li>

<li><a title="Veterans for Truth" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Veterans_for_Truth">Veterans for Truth</a></li>

<li><a title="Veterans for Victory" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Veterans_for_Victory">Veterans for Victory</a></li>

<li><a title="Vets for Freedom" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Vets_for_Freedom">Vets for Freedom</a></li>

</ul>

</div>

<h2>Democrat-inclined 527 committees</h2>

The following are some of the 527 committees which are considered Democrat-inclined:

<ul>

<li><a title="America Coming Together" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=America_Coming_Together">America Coming Together</a></li>

<li><a title="America Votes" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=America_Votes">America Votes</a></li>

<li><a title="Fighting Dem Vets for Congress" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Fighting_Dem_Vets_for_Congress">Fighting Dem Vets for Congress</a></li>

<li><a class="mw-redirect" title="Fund for America" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Fund_for_America">Fund for America</a></li>

<li><a title="Joint Victory Campaign 2004" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Joint_Victory_Campaign_2004">Joint Victory Campaign 2004</a></li>

<li><a title="Media Fund" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Media_Fund">Media Fund</a></li>

<li><a class="mw-redirect" title="MoveOn.org" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=MoveOn.org" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">MoveOn.org</a></li>

<li><a title="One America Committee" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=One_America_Committee">One America Committee</a></li>

<li><a class="new" title="Scientists and Engineers for Change (page does not exist)" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Scientists_and_Engineers_for_Change&action=edit&redlink=1">Scientists and Engineers for Change</a></li>

<li><a title="Texans for Truth" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Texans_for_Truth">Texans for Truth</a></li>

<li><a title="Thunder Road Group" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Thunder_Road_Group">Thunder Road Group</a></li>

<li><a title="Win Back Respect" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Win_Back_Respect">Win Back Respect</a></li>

</ul>

</div>

<h2><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=527_committees">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=527_committees</a></h2>

-----

<a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/347/?utm_source=publicintegrity&utm_medium=related_heds&utm_campaign=related_bottom">http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/347/?utm_source=publicintegrity&utm_medium=related_heds&utm_campaign=related_bottom</a>

These include flag-waving conservative organizations responsible for television ads such as one in which a U.S. marine recently returned from Iraq assails unnamed members of “Congress [who] talk about surrendering.” They include the cheeky liberals who wanted to change the name of General Petraeus to General Betray Us. They include the single-minded activists who obsessed on the alleged misdeeds of Senator Hillary Clinton. Yet while they were quick to delve into any real or imagined political scandal that might change the course of the campaign in their favored direction, there was one thing that most of these groups refused to make public: the names of their funders.

Behind the patriotic gloss and high-quality production values of their advertising, these organizations were operating as renegades along the untested margins of the law that purports to control spending in presidential elections. With their identities hidden under stunningly misleading names and legal technicalities, many offered questionable facts and unproven charges intended to confuse voters or appeal to their worst prejudices.

The result, veteran Democratic pollster Peter Hart told the Center for Public Integrity, was “democracy run amok.”

The irony is that all this negative advertising was unleashed by the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002, which was intended to limit political contributions and improve the electoral process. The goal was to control “soft money,” which in the patois of political insiders means money given with political intent but not specifically in support of a candidate; this contrasts with “hard money,” the tightly controlled and limited direct contributions to candidates’ campaigns and to parties.Senators Russ Feingold and John McCain, lead backers of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (Office of Senator Russ Feingold)

The 2002 law prohibited parties from taking soft money, but political money is insistent in finding a productive channel. Very quickly it was flowing into the coffers of independent groups that have become such a force that they are changing the political landscape. In the 2004 presidential campaign, they found their voice, and major groups in support of both parties found themselves defending charges of corrupt collusion – and paying fines to the Federal Election Commission.

Critics of the reform were obviously wrong when they predicted that it would stifle free speech. But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the leading GOP opponent of the legislation, did foresee one of the law’s biggest drawbacks. “McCain-Feingold does not take the money out of politics,” he said. “It takes the parties out of politics.” Even though the Democratic and Republican parties were raising record amounts of hard money, they found that the upstarts were even better funded and the parties’ voices struggled to compete with the independent groups’ aggressive advertising.

In the 2004 election, it was a pro-Republican group, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, that had the biggest impact by producing an ad that smeared the military record of Democratic nominee John Kerry, a Vietnam veteran. By 2008, the technique of “swift-boating,” as it came to be called, had become so widespread that it was considered an integral part of the presidential selection process. These groups were technically independent of the candidates and parties, but there was seldom — if ever — any mystery about the politicians who would benefit from their negative advertising.

Hart said the proliferation of independent advertising groups with hidden motivations made it difficult for voters to assess the information they received from broadcast advertising. “In the end,” he said in an <a href="http://www.buyingofthepresident.org/index.php/interviews/peter_hart1" title="interview">interview</a>, “all it means is voters are getting bombarded with a message they don’t know where it’s coming from, and there’s no accountability.” He said the real beneficiaries of this “boondoggle” were the media consulting firms that made millions of dollars creating and placing the ads on broadcast outlets, as well as the broadcasters themselves. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, independent groups reported spending more than $200 million on the 2006 elections and more than $440 million on the last presidential election, in 2004. And those numbers only include one type of independent organizations: 527 committees.

Some of these groups publicly identify only a few, if any, of their big funders. The most generous donors include billionaire investor George Soros, a contributor to liberal Democratic organizations; Bob Perry, a conservative Republican who has made millions building housing developments in Texas; and Las Vegas casino owner Sheldon Adelson, also a contributor to Jewish and Israeli causes, who is focused on the threat posed by Iran. In the past, wealthy donors such as these were the source of soft money contributions that went directly to organizations controlled by the Democratic and Republican parties.

Joe Sandler, a lawyer whose clients include the Democratic National Committee as well as some independent groups, said he worries that these groups will eventually sap the vitality from the party organization. “Long term, it’s not in the institutional interest of the party to have [independent groups] be big players in the presidential campaign,” Sandler said. “It diverts some resources and control from the party.”

But suspicions abound that behind all the secrecy the independent groups may not be so independent. During the 2004 presidential election, a Washington Post reporter witnessed what seemed to be evidence of collusion between a nonprofit independent group, Americans for Tax Reform, and the Bush-Cheney campaign. As reported in the newspaper, she saw ATR’s founder, Grover Norquist, give Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman a confidential list of conservative activists in 37 states. When a watchdog group filed charges against ATR based on the Post story, the Federal Election Commission found “reason to believe” that the transfer constituted an illegal contribution from a corporation (ATR) but declined to take further action. ATR and the Bush-Cheney campaign maintained that the list had no monetary value because the information in it was publicly available, a premise the FEC did not accept.

The moral of this story: It is almost impossible to prove cooperation between candidates and independent groups, even though everyone assumes that it happens on a daily basis. And even violations that could be proven would likely not be punished.

Also in the 2004 campaign, a number of consultants worked both for a presidential campaign as well as an allied independent group. Washington attorney Ben Ginsburg was forced to resign when it was learned that he was serving as counsel to both the Bush campaign and the Swift Boat Veterans organization. Ginsberg also was counsel for Progress for America during 2004. Tony Feather, a former political director of Bush-Cheney 2000 and a good friend of White House adviser Karl Rove, was the founder of PFA. Originally, the group’s purpose was to support Bush’s agenda. When the group began running independent issue ads supporting Bush’s reelection, Feather left PFA. But his firm, Feather Larson Synhorst-DCI, went on to do campaign work for Bush-Cheney 2004 and the Republican National Committee. When then-Federal Election Commissioner Bradley Smith was asked on MSNBC whether Ginsberg had violated the law, he replied: “Clearly, a lawyer can advise two clients. What he can’t do is transfer inside information from one to another.”...

explanation of neg ad rules:

<a href="http://www.buyingofthepresident.org/index.php/stories/stealth_campaigns_part_four/P1/">http://www.buyingofthepresident.org/index.php/stories/stealth_campaigns_part_four/P1/</a>