Election spending by outside groups is concentrated and hidden, new Public Citizen analysis shows

[Donnachaidh]

http://citizenvox.org/2010/10/27/election-spending-by-outside-groups-is-concentrated-and-hidden-new-public-citizen-analysis-shows/

Of the $176.1 million spent by outside groups using large, often undisclosed contributions to influence the current elections, just 10 groups are responsible for the bulk of the spending, according to a new analysis released today by Public Citizen.

What’s more, 59.9 percent of the money comes from undisclosed sources. Of those contributions that have been disclosed, nearly two-thirds has come from just 0.12 percent of the contributors. The analysis of data from Public Citizen’s Stealth PACs database shows that:

* At least 149 independent groups have spent money to influence this year’s elections (according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports through Oct. 25) in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which permitted corporations, unions and organizations they fund to spend unlimited money to influence elections.

* Those groups have spent $176.1 million. Of that, $114.6 million, or 65 percent, was spent by only 10 groups.

* From the 10 groups, money spent on behalf of Republicans has outpaced money spent on behalf of Democrats $79.4 million to $28.5 million.

* Five groups have spent money on more than 35 races each. Eleven groups have spent money on more than 20 races each.

* Eighty groups have not disclosed any information about the sources of their money. These groups have spent $105.4 million of the $176.1 million total. Only $70.7 million of the spending – just 40.1 percent – has come from disclosed sources.


MUCH more at the link --