Ann Arbor’s State Representatives’ Independent PACS—Leadership Funds Or Havens For Special Interest Money?
MICHIGAN’S CAMPAIGN FINANCE laws, dating to the mid-1970s, require public disclosure of and set limits on many political contributions. Records for state offices are filed with the Bureau of Elections in the secretary of state’s office in Lansing. They may be viewed on the Internet (www.michigan.gov/sos). A concern to many is the increasing use by corporations, labor unions, associates, Indian tribes, and political parties of soft money. Soft money is used for so-called “issue” advertising that infers that a candidate is on the “right” or “wrong” side of an issue.
Because the money was not contributed to the candidate, and s/he has no say in how it is used, the contributors’ names and how the money is spent do not have to be disclosed. Soft money then falls outside the reach of state and federal campaign-finance laws. (Hard money is that donated directly to a candidate and spent directly in his/her behalf; it must be fully disclosed.)
Independent committees (PAC) are committees that form earlier than six months before an election, receive funds from 25 or more contributors, and give to three or more candidates; most are funded by special interests. All four of Ann Arbor’s state-level representatives formed independent PACs. Their quarterly disclosure statements were due on February 18.
Senator Rebekah Warren:
REBEKAH WARREN ENVISION MICHIGAN PAC (current fund balance: $10,092)
Largest expenditures during this reporting period:
$1,000 to DAWN LEVEY FOR SENATE, DAWN LEVEY for STATE SENATE 24TH SEN DIST
$1,000 to FTE DIAN SLAVENS SENATE, DIAN SLAVENS for STATE SENATE 7TH SEN DIST
$500 FRED SPRAGUE FOR STATE SENATE, FRED SPRAGUE for STATE SENATE 33RD SEN DIST
Special Interest Contributions:
MI BR & WN WHLSLRS ASSN PAC ($2,000)
UNITED HEALTH GROUP INC PAC, Washington, DC ($500)
GCSI 21ST CENTURY PAC, Ann Arbor Lobbyist Kirk Profit ($250)
MI PSYCHOLOGIST PAC ($250)
PHARMACY ACTION COUNCIL PAC ($250)
REBEKAH WARREN LEADERSHIP FUND (current fund balance: $4,512)
Largest expenditure during this reporting period: $1,000 to FRIENDS OF TERRY BROWN, TERRY BROWN for STATE SENATE 25TH SEN DIST
Special Interest Contributions:
MI EDUCATION ASSN PAC ($1,000)
MI ASSN OF HEALTH PLANS PAC ($500)
IBEW LOCAL 252 PAC ($250)
MI SOC OF ANESTHESIOLOGIST PAC ($250)
Representative Jeff Irwin:
JEFF IRWIN LEADERSHIP FUND (current fund balance: $7,214)
No expenditures during this reporting period (cited for campaign finance error/omission)
Representative Adam Zemke:
ADAM ZEMKE ENGINEERING MICHIGANS FUTURE (current fund balance: $680)
Largest expenditure during this reporting period: $1,500 to the Michigan House Democratic Fund
Representative Gretchen Driskell:
DRISKELL VICTORY FUND (current fund balance: $1,076)
No expenditures during this reporting period.