the shadow money game - russ choma

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The Shadow Money Game Unraveling Political Nonprofit Funding Russ Choma Money-In-Politics Reporter OpenSecrets.org

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Russ Choma, money-in-politics reporter for the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org, presents "Shadow Money: Unraveling Political Nonprofits' Spending," a free, one-hour webinar sponsored by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism and the Center for Responsive Politics on May 14. For more information about business journalism training, please visit http://businessjournalism.org.

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Page 1: The Shadow Money Game - Russ Choma

The Shadow Money Game

Unraveling Political Nonprofit Funding

Russ Choma Money-In-Politics Reporter

OpenSecrets.org

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CRP/OpenSecrets.org

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A business story?

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A business story? ●  Federal government’s actions are a major

factor in every businesses bottom line -- understanding how businesses manipulate Washington is crucial.

●  Business reporters have some unique skills to work on this.

●  Cutting edge is corporations -- the dark money LLC.

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What we’ll talk about ●  What is dark money? ●  What does OpenSecrets.org do to help you

understand dark money? ●  How to look for dark money stories and

make them relevant. ●  What’s the next big story to look for? ●  Resources

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What is dark money? ●  Hard money vs. soft money ●  Citizens United

o  What did it not do? ▪  Make corporations people. ▪  Allow corporations to give politicians money.

o  What did it do? ▪  Enabled corporations (which were already people)

to spend money on campaigns -- indirectly. ▪  Unleashed the nonprofits.

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Independent expenditures vs. issue ads

●  Independent EXpenditures are EXplicit

●  Anyone can make them

●  Reported to the FEC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frzHJlsUmdE ADVERTISEMENT:

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Independent expenditures vs. issue ads ●  Issue ads can be

explicit ●  Theoretically

about issues ●  NOT reported to

the FEC* ●  Reported to the

FCC*

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7qoOYC-QE0 ADVERTISEMENT:

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Super PACs vs. 501(c)(4) ●  Super PACs

o  Independent expenditure only o  Report donors o  Report ALL spending

●  501(c)(4) o  nonprofit corporation o  One of many types of 501(c) groups o  Don’t disclose donors o  Don’t usually disclose spending

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Why do you/your editor care?

$1.05 Billion

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Why do you/your editor care? •  Citizens United allowed corporations to spend on political campaigns – but they’re not doing it publicly.

•  Aetna accidentally disclosed $7.8 million to anti-Obamacare groups, while publicly backing it.

•  Reynolds American, cigarette maker, gave to Americans for Tax Reform and others

• Lobbying: • Intuit’s opposition to simple tax filings.

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What does OpenSecrets.org do? •  Cory Booker: $12.2 million, over 5,000 pages of campaign filings, tens of thousands of donors.

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What does OpenSecrets.org do?

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What does OpenSecrets.org do?

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What does OpenSecrets.org do?

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What does OpenSecrets.org do? •  Campaign finance

• Candidates, PACs (corporate, labor, etc.) and parties • 14,200+ organizations

• Lobbying • 4,100+ organizations

• Personal finances • Outside spending

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What does OpenSecrets.org do?

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OpenSecrets.org and dark money

http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/

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OpenSecrets.org and dark money

http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/

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OpenSecrets.org and dark money

]

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OpenSecrets.org and dark money

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Finding dark money stories – 990s • Sources:

• Guidestar • CitizenAudit • OpenSecrets.org

• Key Information: • Revenues • Contacts • Directors • Top vendors • Grants

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Finding dark money stories – FCC

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Finding dark money stories – FCC

●  All stations must keep this public file, all political spending must be included -- local, state, federal and “issue” ads.

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Finding dark money stories – FCC

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Finding dark money stories – FCC

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Finding dark money stories – FCC ●  TV lobby is powerful, so currently only

available for the top 50 markets -- that’s changing this summer.

●  Does not include cable ads. ●  Does include local races. ●  Every filing is different, and different stations

may require different information, but it’s a start.

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Finding dark money stories – SOS Filings

●  Non-profits ARE corporations -- not only do they file 990s, they file annual reports with states.

●  Increasingly, dark money groups are reporting links with LLCs (more on this later). ○  Most political reporters have no idea what to

do about this. ○  Disregarded entities/loans/consultants, etc.

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What’s the next big story? ●  2012 was the year of the super PAC, with

501(c) groups making an appearance. ●  2014 will have heavy activity by 501(c)

groups, but… ●  The smart money has already moved on to

“new fangled vehicles” -- LLCs. ●  The for-profit political company?

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Questions?

Russ Choma [email protected]

202.354.0108 opensecrets.org

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Resources ●  OpenSecrets.org ●  Sunlight Foundation.com ●  CitizenAudit.org -- 990s ●  FCC -- political files ●  SEC filings ●  State filings