PAC money spending in the 2010 Michigan Elections

The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission gave corporations an opportunity to spend unlimited funds in US elections.

It has been reported in a variety of sources how this decision has played out on the federal level with one example of excess funds being used to influence the elections being the US Chamber of Commerce. However, what is less known is how the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission has played out in the State of Michigan.

According to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, “A new era has begun for Michigan political action committees.” New Political Action Committees (PACs) have been established in Michigan with the largest being the RGA Michigan PAC, which is associated with the Republican Governor’s Association.

Michigan connections to the RGA include the following:

• The Michigan Chamber of Commerce gave $5.4 million from its corporate treasury to RGA this year.

• Various individuals from around the country have given RGA MI PAC $8.4 million. Only $175,000 came from persons with Michigan addresses.

• RGA MI PAC sent $3 million to the campaign committee of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

• Of the remaining $5.4 million, RGA MI PAC gave more than $4 million to the Michigan Republican Party. It appears to have retained $1.3 million.

Another of the big player PACs is the Business Leaders for Michigan PAC II. “The new corporate PAC received $20,000 from Meijer, Inc. and $5,000 each from an assortment of Michigan-based businesses. Its independent expenditures so far supported the senate campaigns of David Hildenbrand ($62,569) and Tonya Schuitmake ($23,741).”

However, PACs have been generous to the Democrats as well with five of the top ten PACs funneling money their way. Thos PACs include the Michigan House Democratic Fund ($2,912,473) and the UAW MI Voluntary PAC ($1,352,000).

The Michigan Campaign Finance Network has posted a list of the top 150 PACs and the amount of their contributions through 10/20/2010. The total these PACs have given to date is $43,964,413. Considering how devastated the Michigan economy and how many families are living in poverty, this amount of money going to influence elections should say something about the goal of political parties, which is to win at all cost.