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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: political action committees

political action committees stories: 18 news summaries
investigation

Leadership PACs Make 'Mockery' of Election Rules


Sep 30, 09 4:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - Meet the new villain of campaign fundraising: the leadership PAC. These once-obscure fundraising tools used to be reserved for rising political stars. Now, 70% of lawmakers in Congress have them—and the lax scrutiny that goes along with how the money gets spent. Most of the cash is supposed to... More »

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Congress • political action committees • Saxby Chambliss • leadership PACs • political fundraising

 Pawlenty 
 Launches 
 PAC 

Committee seen as another sign of upcoming presidential run

Sep 22, 09 2:41 PM CDT
(Newser) - Tim Pawlenty is taking yet another step toward a presidential run by launching a political action committee, the Washington Post reports. The PAC, dubbed “Freedom First,” will allow Pawlenty to travel the country, build a national network, and donate funds to state and federal candidates. Its first... More »

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Minnesota • Tim Pawlenty • political action committees • Election 2012

 Sotomayor's First Case
 Could Transform US Politics

New justice in at the deep end with landmark campaign finance case

Sep 8, 09 7:09 AM CDT
(Newser) - There aren't any easy cases at the Supreme Court level but the one newbie Sonia Sotomayor and her eight colleagues will tackle  tomorrow is as momentous—and as tricky—as they come, McClatchy reports. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission will require the court to decide whether the long-standing ban... More »

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free speech • campaign finance • Federal Election Commission • political action committees • US Supreme Court • Citizens United • Sonia Sotomayor

 'Tea Party Express' 
 to Bring Protest to DC 

Cross-country bus trip will hit DC on Sept. 12 for 'taxpayer march'

Aug 31, 09 12:07 PM CDT
(Newser) - A California-based political action committee is sponsoring a cross-country bus trip designed to unite right-wing malcontents of all stripes, NPR reports. Dubbed the “Tea Party Express,” the bus will culminate its journey with a “taxpayer march” on Washington, DC on Sept. 12. “It’s about time... More »

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protests • health care reform • political action committees • tea parties

 Gingrich Group Raises $8.1M 


Aug 1, 09 1:17 PM CDT
(Newser) - Newt Gingrich’s political organization brought in a hefty $8.1 million in the first 6 months of the year, Politico reports. American Solutions for Winning the Future advances conservative issues by paying for Gingrich’s air travel, promoting his books, and distributing mail and advertising—but if anybody asks,... More »

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Newt Gingrich • presidential campaign • political action committees • Election 2012 • conservative movement

(Newser) - Blue Dog Democrats may be ticking off President Obama and party leaders with their opposition to health care overhaul, but the move is doing wonders for their campaign coffers, reports CQ Politics. The Blue Dog Political Action Committee has pulled in $1.1 million for the 2010 races, more than... More »

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Congress • House of Representatives • health care reform • political action committees • political donations • Blue Dog Democrats

Palin PAC Fund Reaches $1M

Gov's resignation sparks $200K in new donations to spread Sarah's word

Jul 14, 09 1:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - Sarah Palin's political action committee has received almost $1 million dollars since she created it at the end of January, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The fund—which Palin plans to use to spread her message and campaign for chosen candidates across the country—has received $200,000 in donations... More »

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political action committees • political donations • Sarah Palin • fundraising • SarahPAC

Edwards Admits Feds Probing Hush Cash

Candidate may have paid off mistress with campaign donations

May 3, 09 3:15 PM CDT
(Newser) - John Edwards is being investigated by feds looking to see if he illegally used 2008 campaign funds to hush up mistress Rielle Hunter, the former candidate told the Charlotte Observer, confirming an earlier report in the Edwards-happy National Enquirer. Hunter, hired to film the candidate, was paid $114,000 by... More »

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John Edwards • campaign finance • federal investigation • affair • political action committees • Rielle Hunter • campaign donors

Stalled Minn. Senate Race a Home Run for Fundraisers

Groups for both parties reap cash by citing Franken-Coleman battle

Apr 6, 09 9:21 AM CDT
(Newser) - For some political fundraisers, the longer the Franken-Coleman race barrels onward, the better: it’s helping them pull down huge sums, Politico reports. Groups from both parties are hitting up their constituents for cash, using the Minnesota race to spark sympathy. “We need to expose these illicit attempts to... More »

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Norm Coleman • Al Franken • political action committees • Election 2008 • political donations • fundraising

Insiders Blame Palin Blunders on Rookie Staff

Allies: Interview gaffes, backing out of events all handlers' fault

Mar 29, 09 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - Sarah Palin has made her share of missteps over the last few months—dropping invitations from conservative events at the last minute, making snide comments about Katie Couric, and appearing in front of doomed turkeys—and defenders of the governor are happy to blame Palin's Alaska staff and DC political... More »

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Alaska • gaffe • campaign • political action committees • Sarah Palin • SarahPAC

 Palin Ramps Up 
 Presidential Push 

Alaska gov. will attend key pols dinner in DC, launches political action committee

Jan 27, 09 9:17 AM CST
(Newser) - Sarah Palin is headed to Washington this weekend, for an invitation-only dinner for political stars—an event President Obama is likely to attend, the New York Post reports. It’s the latest sign the Alaska governor is eying a Republican presidential bid—she’s also launching a political action committee,... More »

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presidency • political action committees • presidential bid • Sarah Palin • Election 2012 • President Obama

 Mac Is Back, 
 Pushing Reforms 

GOP stalwart returns to Senate, eye on reining in lobbying and earmarks

Jan 8, 09 4:00 PM CST
(Newser) - Sen. John McCain, forgotten but not gone after his failed bid for the presidency, was back in form this week as he pushed bipartisan reform of earmarks and lobbying, Congressional Quarterly reports. Though the Arizona Republican’s eyes were watery and he had some trouble reading at the press conference,... More »

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John McCain • Senate • earmarks • Republican Party • lobbying • Senate GOP • political action committees • McCain 2008 • bipartisanship • the Hispanic vote • young voters

McCain Will
Run for Fifth Term in Senate

His advisers begin setting up a political action committee

Nov 18, 08 7:14 PM CST
(AP) - Sen. John McCain, whose presidential bid was snuffed out two weeks ago by Barack Obama, is setting up a political action committee as a first step in running for a fifth term in the Senate. A McCain spokesperson said the 72-year-old Arizona senator decided with his senior advisers tonight to... More »

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John McCain • Arizona • Senate • political action committees

Pelosi's PAC Paid Husband's Firm $99K for Work

Transaction legal, but would have been banned by bill Dem Speaker supported

Oct 1, 08 3:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Nancy Pelosi paid her husband’s company $99,000 through her political action committee during the past 9 years, the Washington Times reports. Payments to Paul Pelosi’s Financial Leasing Services are routine fees for accounting and office-space rent payments, but would have been illegal under a bill Pelosi supported... More »

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Nancy Pelosi • Congress • House of Representatives • accounting • political action committees • political donations • spouse • financial crisis

 Huckabee Hops on
 'Straight Talk Express' 

Ex-rival revives rumor of veep candidacy

Apr 25, 08 8:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - Former rivals John McCain and Mike Huckabee stumped side-by-side in Arkansas today, reviving rumors that they may form a joint ticket for the November election, CNN reports. Huckabee "can be a great asset to our campaign," McCain said. Huckabee, who has announced a new book and political action... More »

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John McCain • presidential campaign • Mike Huckabee • vice president • Little Rock, Arkansas • political action committees • vice presidential sweepstakes

Wal-Mart Shops for Green Cred

Critics skeptical as mammoth chain donates to eco groups, reduces energy use

Nov 25, 07 6:16 AM CST
(Newser) - Hoping to soften its image, Wal-Mart is going green, the Washington Post reports. The retail giant is now donating to environmental groups, improving its energy efficiency, and creating the first hybrid shipping truck. Yet some critics say it's a mere cover. "Wal-Mart is willing to spread its money wherever... More »

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environmentalism • compact fluorescent bulbs • hybrid car • Sierra Club • political action committees • green business • Environmental Defense • Wal-Mart

Edwards Could Lose Millions in Matching Funds

$4.3M in ActBlue
web donations may violate election law

Nov 19, 07 4:08 PM CST
(Newser) - A tricky online fundraising format could dent John Edwards’ clean donations reputation—and cost him millions in federal funds. Edwards is the only top-tier Democrat accepting public financing, which matches individual donations up to $250. The system's exclusion of  funds “drawn on the account of a committee” may imperil... More »

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John Edwards • campaign finance • FEC • ActBlue • public financing • political action committees

High Court
Eyes McCain-
Feingold 

Alito, Roberts may reverse ban on "issue ads" during campaign

Apr 26, 07 7:37 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Supreme Court looks poised to pull an about face on the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law by striking down its strictures on "issue ads"—pre-election commentary that mentions candidates by name. Sandra Day O'Connor joined a majority in upholding the ban in 2003; Alito and Roberts may provide... More »

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Antonin Scalia • Samuel Alito • John Roberts • McCain Feingold • Campaign Finance Reform • political action committees • US Supreme Court

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