Money, money, money..... who's got the money and who's getting it

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New Reports Show Big Checks Flow for Politics
By Kent Cooper, January 31, 2014

If you thought money in politics was limited, take a look at the big checks from donors being reported by Super PACs, joint fundraising committees, and Section 527 groups.

Year-End campaign finance reports of candidates and political committees are due today, and disclose financial activity for the last part of 2013. While there are limits on how much can be given directly to federal candidates and a political committees, the limits are higher when several committees set up a joint fundraising committee. For Super PACs, that do not give directly to candidates but make independent expenditures, there are no limits. For Section 527 groups, there are no limits.

A quick look at a few new reports shows the following large contributions:

The Republican Governors Association gave $1 million on 12/9 to its Super PAC, RGA Right Direction PAC.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners gave $1,925,677 to its Super PAC, Working for Working Americans. The Super PAC then gave funds to other Super PACs, including $750,000 to Funds for Jobs, Growth and Security; $250,000 to Defending Main Street Super PAC; $250,000 to House Majority PAC; $100,000 to Win Minnesota Federal PAC.

Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, gave $300,000 to his Super PAC, Independence USA PAC.

Californians For a House Majority, a Republican-oriented Super PAC, received $58,000 from Carol Troesch (retired, NV); $50,000 from Steven Craig (president, Craig Realty Group, CA); $50,000 from Michelle Horowitz (investor, CA); $50,000 from Tommy Larkin (executive, Transamerica Inv. Mgmt., CA).

Cantor Leadership Fund received $42,600 from Andrew Barth (Capital Group, CA); $42,600 from Leon Black (chairman/CEO, Apollo Global Investment, NY); $25,000 from Michael Liberman (COO & chief risk officer, Blue Mountain Capital, NY).

McConnell Victory Kentucky received $25,000 from Judith & David Bronczek (president, Federal Express, TN); $25,000 from Barbara & J.R. Hyde (chairman, Pittco Management LLC, TN); $25,000 from Dina & Brad Martin (CEO, RBM Ventures, TN); $25,000 from Daniel & Christine Richards (general counsel, Federal Express, TN).

The Democratic Governors Association, a Section 527 organization, received in the last six months of the year, $250,000 from Paul Tudor Jones (CT); $250,000 from Thomas Steyer, CA); $325,000 from AFSCME; $250,000 from Aetna; $150,000 from the Sheet Metal Workers Int’l. Political Action League; $150,000 from United Healthcare Services; among many others.

Earlier Political MoneyLine postings mentioned the $5 million from the National Education Association to its Super PAC; and the Values are Vital super PAC receipts of $525,000 from Paige Kreegal, and $485,000 from Martin Burns.

To search detailed money-in-politics databases, visit Political MoneyLine.
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