Super PACs to Reveal Donors, Expenses Tuesday

By Stephanie Samuel, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Super PACs, the money-laden independent groups behind the political attack ads airing in several states, will release the names of its biggest financial donors Tuesday.

Up until Tuesday, the names of the high-profile donors fueling the super PACs were kept secret. That money has been used to purchase some $25 million in television ads, according to The Associated Press, attacking mostly GOP candidates Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich and President Barack Obama in key states.

However, disclosure laws set by the Federal Election Commission are forcing the beefed-up political action committees to reveal the names of their givers as well as the totals of their expenses.

Information about the super PACs' expenses has already been pouring in.

Super PACs are allowed to solicit and fundraise unlimited amounts of money.

So far, the pro-Romney Restore Our Future fundraised $11.4 million through Jan. 24, according to the Center for Responsive Politics' website OpenSecrets.org. Of that total, over $9 million was spent on television and radio ads boasting the former Massachusetts governor over Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

The pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning Our Future has spent $4.17 million on campaign ads. Of that amount, between $490,373 and $987,452 was spent on email and Internet advertising.

The pro-Ron Paul super PAC Endorse Liberty fundraised over $3 million and spent $2.36 million on Google ads for youth-oriented websites such as Facebook and Stumble Upon.

The names of some high-profile super PAC donors have also been publicized.

Nevada billionaire and casino owner Sheldon Adelson's donation of two $5 million-dollar checks to the pro-Gingrich Winning Our Future has already been publicized.

Former Bain Capital executive Edward Conrad gave $1 million to Restore Our Future. Marriott International Inc. CEO J.W. Marriott Jr. also gave $500,000 to the pro-Romney super PAC.

Super PACs will likely reveal the names of other big donors as well as the amounts of money spent on infrastructure, payroll and travel.