Illinois Super PACs Raise $1M, Could Affect Election
From the Associated Press
Illinois super PACs are bringing more than $1 million to this fall's legislative campaign, but the meaning and influence of that money remains uncertain.
While the unexpected campaign finance phenomenon puts a new wrinkle in the Nov. 6 election, the sum is dwarfed by the $6.8 million held in political accounts of the two major state parties and the four legislative leaders, according to disclosure reports filed this week.
Illinois has 10 super PACs — six formed just this month — that arose from court rulings that allowed corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals to raise and spend unlimited money if they don't affiliate with a candidate. Five have raised serious money, including $288,000 by Personal PAC, the abortion-rights advocate that won a federal lawsuit allowing such "independent expenditure" committees in Illinois.
That money is just starting to trickle out three weeks before Election Day, but in politics, a lot can happen in a short time — particularly in relatively small legislative districts in swing parts of the state.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Associated Press
Illinois super PACs are bringing more than $1 million to this fall's legislative campaign, but the meaning and influence of that money remains uncertain.
While the unexpected campaign finance phenomenon puts a new wrinkle in the Nov. 6 election, the sum is dwarfed by the $6.8 million held in political accounts of the two major state parties and the four legislative leaders, according to disclosure reports filed this week.
Illinois has 10 super PACs — six formed just this month — that arose from court rulings that allowed corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals to raise and spend unlimited money if they don't affiliate with a candidate. Five have raised serious money, including $288,000 by Personal PAC, the abortion-rights advocate that won a federal lawsuit allowing such "independent expenditure" committees in Illinois.
That money is just starting to trickle out three weeks before Election Day, but in politics, a lot can happen in a short time — particularly in relatively small legislative districts in swing parts of the state.
Read more in our daily News Update...