The majority of the top non-party-affiliated spenders this election cycle have provided no information on the source of their campaign war-chests, according to Public Citizen. These groups have spent millions, and in some cases tens of millions of dollars, to influence races around the United States without releasing the names of their supporters.
No. 1 on the list is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has shelled out $31.4 million in 2010 (as of October 31) and disclosed nothing about the contributions it has received. The next largest donor group in this category is the GOP-friendly American Action Network ($19.3 million spent), followed by Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, a wing of the conservative political action committee, American Crossroads, begun by Republican operatives Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, at $16.2 million.
Next up is another conservative PAC, the American Future Fund, which has doled out $9.6 million, and the business-oriented Americans for Job Security PAC, which has given $9.0 million without disclosing anything about their funders.
Rounding out the list of secret donor groups is the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees ($7.4 million), one of the nation's largest labor unions; the 60 Plus Association ($7.0 million), which reportedly has ties to the pharmaceutical industry; and Americans for Tax Reform ($3.5 million), founded by conservative financier Grover Norquist.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
2010 Independent Electioneering Activities (Public Citizen) (pdf)
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