Statewide PACs have raised $8.6 million already this year

According to a new report from the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, the top 150 PACs in Michigan have raised $8,587,412 since January 2011.

This amount is actually a bit down since last year at this time, but last year was also a gubernatorial election year. The report cites the following as the top PAC fundraisers for the first half of 2011:

“The Republican legislative caucuses’ PACs are the top fundraisers so far this cycle. The House Republican Campaign Committee has raised $758,385 to top the list, and it has a cash balance of $511,267. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee is second with $599,050 raised, but it has only $63,784 on hand after repaying debts from last election cycle. The SRCC still owes $325,000.

The House Democratic Fund has had the third biggest take so far this cycle at $501,547. It has a balance of $235,824. The Senate Democratic Fund has raised $202,276, good for seventh place on the list, and its balance is $124,163.

The rest of the top ten PACs includes Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan PAC, $309,342; Michigan Health and Hospital Association’s Health PAC, $298,638; the Michigan Education Association PAC, $294,612; Business Leaders for Michigan PAC II, a corporate PAC, which can make independent expenditures but not contributions to candidates, $200,500; Michigan Association for Justice PAC, $195,417; and the Michigan Association of Realtors PAC, $190,532.

Business Leaders for Michigan also operates a PAC, which does not use corporate funds that can make direct contributions to candidates. That PAC raised $100,500. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, likewise, has a corporate PAC, which raised $60,000, and a ‘hard money’ PAC that raised $122,148.”

The Press Release for this new report ends with this comment from MCFN executive director Rich Robinson, “Michigan’s economic recovery may be sputtering, but the money that lubricates Michigan politics never dries up.”

Top 150 MI PACs, July 2011