Politics

Daily Disclosures

By Bill Allison

A roundup of what we’re noticing in the Reporting Group as we dig into government data and disclosures:

By the numbers: Outside groups have disclosed spending some $347 million, of which $302 million directly advocates defeat or election of a federal candidate. Biggest chunk of that latter portion: Outside, non-party groups (including Super PACs and non-profits) opposing Democratic candidates ($73.5 million) followed by Democratic Party committees opposing Republican candidates ($66.4 million). Get the latest numbers right here.

Running out of cash? National Republican Congressional Committee reported spending $10 million over the last five days. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, over the same period, spent $1.2 million. Super PAC American Crossroads spent $1.9 million over the same period.

Discl-$0-sure: Ending Spending Fund, a Super PAC that’s disclosed spending $1.1 million–the biggest chunk on opposing Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.–has filed its pre-general election report with the Federal Election Commission. Starting cash: $0. Total receipts: $0. Total spent: $0. They don’t disclose donors either.

New Super PACs: Kinde Durkee, who runs a firm that specializes in helping political organizations comply with filing requirements (and was fined $110,000 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for financial reporting violations), filed a form with the FEC for No 2 Sides PAC. The initial filing for the Super PAC lists the Liar Alert PAC as an affiliated committee; the latter discloses no receipts or disbursements in its October quarterly report. Matthew Garrington registered the Environment Colorado Action Committee. Garrington’s linkedin profile is here. Neither group has disclosed spending any money, though Liar Alert PAC has a website featuring issue ads.

Be sure to check out our Follow the Unlimited Money tool–updated hourly!–to get all the latest info on outside groups.

PhRMA & 527s: Citizens for Strength and Security filed its 527 pre-election report with the Internal Revenue Service. Biggest donors: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Democratic Governors Association and labor union SEIU. My colleague wrote about CSS Action Fund, which may or may not be an affiliated committee, here.

From Sunlight CAM: Democratic National Committee supporting Todd Young in Indiana? Might mean the DCCC.

The Daily Poligraft: Weekend edition: GOP Mega Donors look toward 2012, from Politico.

Subcontractors: USASpending.gov announces on its home page that it will track sub award data starting Dec. 1st.

Today’s Politiwidget: Bank of America acknowledged errors in its handling of foreclosures, the Wall Street Journal reports. We’ve been keeping an eye on the foreclosure crisis and Bank of America; the top House recipient of contributions from them is…

Full post as published by Sunlight Foundation on October 25, 2010 (boomark / email).