The Washington Post notes what CREW showed: "Leadership PACs aren't just for leaders anymore"

crew — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:50:49 -0500

Yesterday, CREW released the most complete list of House members’ Political Action Committees (PAC) available to date.

The list of the 232 House members with PACs can be found here.

Today, the Washington Post took note of that study:

Leadership PACs aren't just for leaders anymore.

In a first-of-its-kind study, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has compiled a nearly comprehensive list of political action committees associated with lawmakers.

More than half the House now boasts of having a PAC, in addition to the campaign committees that members use to actually run for office.

They were once known as leadership PACs because only party leaders -- or those aspiring to be leaders -- had PACs. While the election accounts are limited to $4,600 per donor for each two-year election cycle, PACs can take in $10,000 from each contributor over that same time. The money is doled out to other candidates to build goodwill for a candidate's personal ambitions.

At least 231 members of the House have PACs, according to the CREW study. Another 68 lawmakers refused to divulge to the liberal-leaning watchdog whether they had one. There's no official requirement that members disclose their affiliations with the committees.

Many have names that can be turned into easily identifiable acronyms -- think Rely On Your Beliefs Fund, or RoyB Fund, for Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) -- but some PACs are just oddly named, and CREW couldn't be sure they were associated with a lawmaker.

And there's no partisan divide on PACs. At least 112 Democrats and 119 Republicans have them.

CREW releases most complete list of House Members with Political Action Committees (PAC)

crew — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:06:49 -0500

Today, CREW released the most complete list of House members’ Political Action Committees (PAC) available to date. CREW research found that out of 432 House members: 232 have PACs, 133 House members do not have PACs, 67 House members’ offices refused to disclose an affiliation with a PAC, 113 Democrats have PACs, and 119 Republicans have PACs.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - House PACs

The Washington Post notes what CREW showed: "Leadership PACs aren't just for leaders anymore"

CREW releases most complete list of House Members with Political Action Committees (PAC)