Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Why? Why? Why?

News story #1 -

"WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans blocked a bill Monday evening to increase transparency in campaign spending by independent groups.

In a 51-44 vote, the DISCLOSE Act failed to obtain the 60 votes needed to clear a Republican filibuster. The bill would have required disclosure of anyone who donates to independent groups that spent more than $10,000 on campaign ads -- or their functional equivalent -- and other election spending."

News story #2 - Here's the answer to the "why" related to news story #1 -

"The megadonors who bankrolled “super PACs” during the Republican presidential primary are now turning their attention to the general election, with some top donors pouring millions of dollars into Republican efforts.

Restore Our Future, the super PAC affiliated with Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, raised more than $20 million in June, an official said on Monday, at least half from the casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam. The couple also poured $5 million into the YG Action Fund, a super PAC started by former aides to the Republican House majority leader, Eric Cantor of Virginia, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. The financier Bruce Kovner and his wife, Suzanne, gave $250,000 to the group.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a group devoted to Republicans running for the House, raised $1.3 million in June, with $1 million from the Texas homebuilder Bob J. Perry, who contributed heavily to Republican super PACs during the primary.

Those totals do not include the millions of dollars being funneled into tax-exempt groups that are politically active but are not required to register with the Federal Election Commission or disclose their donors."