Funny, That

The Republicans for Choice political action committee (PAC) collects money to support pro-choice Republicans running for office.

The odd part of this is that Republicans for Choice PAC doesn't actually give much of the money to said candidates:

Since the PAC’s formation in 1990, documents show that Republicans for Choice has raised and spent more than $5.5 million. But a Center for Public Integrity analysis of the PAC’s more recent filings — along with data from CQ MoneyLine, which tracks political giving — reveals that over the past decade less than five percent of the committee’s spending has gone to political candidates, other political committees, or independent expenditures. Since 2005, just about one-half of one percent of the PAC’s nearly $1 million in spending has gone to federal or state campaigns, according to a review of records. By comparison, Federal Election Commission data show the average federal PAC in the recent 2007-2008 cycle dedicated about 35 percent of spending to contributions aiding federal candidates. A comparison to other PACs on both sides of the abortion debate shows that similar groups spend a much greater portion of their funds on candidates and campaigns.

Where did RFC’s money go? Much of the group’s spending has been for consulting companies owned by the PAC’s chairwoman, Ann E. W. Stone. Those firms — along with payments to reimburse Stone’s expenses for travel, entertainment, and automobile repairs — comprise more than two-thirds of RFC PAC’s expenditures since 2006. And hundreds of dollars more went to pay for Stone’s parking tickets.

This should not be a surprise.

For folks who follow Talking Points Memo, this sort of self dealing is rather common among Republican fund raising groups.

Linda Chavez has earned a healthy living doing this, as has a PAC dedicated to electing minority Republicans.

Basically, if you are donating to pro-life or minority Republicans through a 3^rd party firm, you should assume that less than ½% makes it to candidates.