Table 2 501(c) Groups’ Spending Over $2 million on Federal Election Programs (2008 cycle) Information available as of October 25, 2008
Organization Summary of Election Activities Name and
Type of 501(c)
Spent over $2.5 million on TV and radio ads promoting Republicans and criticizing Democrats in American competitive Senate races. Conservative free market group run by former or current Republican operatives and consultants. Future Fund Donors are unknown. 501(c)4
Almost $3 million spent on independent expenditures against Obama. Ads focused on Obama’s relationship with William Ayers, a former radical group leader who was involved in violent attacks in the 1960s. American Issues The organization is run by Ed Martin, a former chief of staff for Missouri’s Republican governor Matt Project Blunt. Consultants for the group include Chris LaCivita, who previously worked with the Republican- 501(c)4 oriented Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and Tony Feather, a leading Republican consultant. The sole donor is Harold Simmons, CEO of Contran Corporation, and a leading Republican contributor.
Spent close to $6 million on TV and radio electioneering ads critical of several Democratic Senators. Active ground war operation includes distributing mailers in New Hampshire and Minnesota critical of Americans for Democratic candidates. Job Security Current leader is former Executive Director of New Hampshire Republican Party. Organization has 501(c)6 been funded in past by trade associations, business and individuals. Donors are unknown.
The Campaign Finance Institute * www.CampaignFinanceInstitute.org Spent $600,000 on electioneering communications criticizing Republicans opponents of the Employee Freedom Choice Act (EFCA) in five Senate races. American A total of $5 million was projected for a four-week cable TV ad campaign supporting EFCA by Rights at Work targeting Republican Senators or Senate candidates in eight competitive races. 501(c)4 Chairman David Bonior was a Democratic Congressman for 26 years. Donors are unknown.
America’s Over $13 million spent on electioneering ads thanking 13 House Democrats and one House Agenda: Health Republican in competitive races, nine relatively safe Senate Democrats, two vulnerable Senate Republicans, and two Senate Democrats not up for reelection for their support for the State Children's Care for Kids Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) legislation -- and urging them to keep fighting on the issue. Inc. Union-led group, but ads were totally funded by PHRMA (Pharmaceutical industry trade association). 501(c)4
Spending $20 million during the election on defeating the Employee Free Choice Act, which would Coalition for allow workers to use a “card check” system instead of a secret ballot election for selecting union Democratic representation. Running TV ads targeting Democratic candidates, and sending direct mail to two million households, in six states with competitive Senate races. Workplace Connections to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business oriented organizations. 501(c)4 or 6 Donors are unknown.
Spent nearly $2.7 million on independent expenditures, including over $1 million on TV ads and mailings in Colorado House race in opposition to Republican incumbent Marilyn Musgrave. Other ads supported Colorado Senate Candidate Democrat Mark Udall and opposed Republicans in other Defenders of House races. Over $400,000 in electioneering communications, including TV ads critical of Republican Vice Wildlife Action President candidate Sarah Palin in several competitive House races, urging “conservation-minded Fund voters” to vote for Democrats. 501(c)4 Conducting a ground war in support of Democrats in New Mexico and Colorado running for both the House and Senate; knocking on more than 75,000 doors and distributing mailers. Donors are unknown.
The Campaign Finance Institute * www.CampaignFinanceInstitute.org Prepared to spend $30 million during the election to oppose union-sponsored “card check” legislation. Employee The group has produced TV, radio and print ads in competitive Senate races in ten or eleven states Freedom Action and a national ad featuring George McGovern opposing the Employee Free Choice Act. Committee Director Richard Berman is a veteran corporate lobbyist and the former labor law director for the US (EFAC) Chamber of Commerce. 501(c)4 Donors are unknown
Spent approximately $9 million on TV and radio electioneering communications in potentially competitive Senate and House races. The ads target Democrats and discuss a range of issues (taxes, spending, energy, Iraq, etc) Freedom’s Distributed flyers and conducted prerecorded phone calls in numerous Senate and House races. Donated $623,000 to Vets For Freedom, another 501 (c) (4) group advocating conservative Watch messages in the Presidential election. 501(c)4 Founded by large Republican donors and fundraisers and former Bush administration officials. Current Congressional ad campaigns run by top Republican political consultant Tony Feather and former House Republican campaign committee official, Carl Forti. Top donor to the group has been billionaire Sheldon Adelson, chairman of Las Vegas Sands.
Almost $4 million spent on electioneering communications focusing on expanding health insurance coverage. Ads have criticized Senator McCain’s health plan, and the group is also advertising in one Senate and six House races. Health Care for Mailers are being sent out in several competitive districts. America Now Group has budgeted $4.3 million for media ads and aims to spend $500,000 on mailers and phone calls. (HCAN) "Million Doors For Healthcare" is a nationwide canvassing effort in 44 states to reach voters 501(c)4 concerned about health-care costs and revealing candidates’ views. HCAN is a new coalition of union and other liberal organizations. Elizabeth Edwards is a spokeswoman for the group. Donors are unknown.
Nearly $2.2 million spent on independent expenditures opposing Republicans and supporting League of Democrats in a few [two?] Senate races. Almost a third ($730,000) of the money was for ads and Conservation mailers targeting McCain on issues like the Colorado River Compact. Voters Action In partnership with the Sierra Club, spent $80,000 on door-to-door canvassing, phone banks and Fund direct mailers on behalf of Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire. 501(c)4 Donors are unknown.
The Campaign Finance Institute * www.CampaignFinanceInstitute.org Spending a total of approximately $5 million on TV and radio ads opposing Obama including a three- part campaign invoking a variety of conservative issues. Has already made independent expenditures of at least $1.3 million. Let Freedom President Colin A. Hanna is a conservative Christian Republican and consultant Tim Goeglein is a Ring Inc. former Bush Administration liaison to religious conservatives. Dr. John Templeton Jr., former 501(c)4 Chairman and President of the John Templeton Foundation, was a top Republican donor. Donors are unknown.
The NRA and its affiliates Intends to spend $40 million on the elections, about twice what it spent in 2006 and 2004. Half of the effort is focusing on the Presidential race (including related PAC activities), and the remainder on “7,000 federal, state, and local races that the group is watching”. National Rifle Conducting a ground campaign through its 501(c)(4) “to fund, educate, register and turn out millions of gun owners to vote this year.” Created a “multi-million dollar” registration drive using micro- Association targeting techniques to register voters. Sent millions of pieces of mail to the nation's 80 million gun (NRA) owners. These ground activities have cost about $10 million in recent elections. It is not known 501(c)4 whether they will increase this year because of the doubling of overall organization spending Donors are unknown.
Over $2.7 million spent by Fund and state affiliates on independent expenditures, mainly. TV ads praising Obama and attacking the records and statements of McCain and Palin on reproductive issues. Planned Plans to spend $10 million on “One Million Strong” campaign in 10 battleground states to “reach out Parenthood to women voters” with “volunteers conducting hundreds of thousands of one-on-one home visits, Action Fund followed up by phone calls and letters.” 501(c)4 President Cecile Richards is the former deputy Chief of Staff to Democrat Nancy Pelosi and daughter of former Democratic Governor Ann Richards. Donors are unknown.
• Supported Obama in presidential primaries through ground communications and ads targeted at African-American and Latino voters. Reported over $800,000 in Independent Expenditures and over $1 million in electioneering communications, but says total spending was “much more.” More recently ran ads in New Mexico supporting Obama. PowerPAC.org • Has been running large minority voter registration program ($10 million+) that appears non-partisan. 501(c)4 • Founder-President is Steve Phillips, former President of San Francisco Board of Education and civil rights lawyer, and major player in national progressive groups including Democracy Alliance. • Donors are unknown.
The Campaign Finance Institute * www.CampaignFinanceInstitute.org Over $12 million spent on electioneering communications regarding business issues in Senate and U.S. Chamber of House races. Ads generally support Republicans and sometimes attack Democrats. Planned election year programs of up to $30 million including at least $10 million in a get out the vote Commerce operation. 501(c)6 Peak business association. Donors are unknown.
Has dedicated almost $4 million to electioneering communications criticizing Obama’s position on Vets for Iraqi war legislation involving the surge and troop funding levels. Spent at least $1 million more for Freedom Inc. similar ads over the summer. 501(c)4 Executive Director is a former McCain and Bush presidential campaign operative. Donor details are largely unknown.
Sources: See Appendix.
The Campaign Finance Institute * www.CampaignFinanceInstitute.org