Political action committees spent more money on state-level candidates in just 23 states during the 2012 election cycle than they did on federal candidates in all 50 states, according to a new analysis. The analysis from the Sunlight Foundation shows state-level PACs dished out $1.4 billion to candidates running for governor, attorney general, state legislative and other non-federal offices in those states. All told, PACs spent $1.2 billion on federal candidates. State PACs do not have to report their spending to the Federal Election Commission. Instead, they report to campaign finance organizations in the states in which they spend money, all of which have different rules for reporting, disclosure and spending.
But the fact that PAC spending in just 23 states already surpasses federal spending offers a remarkable window into the massive amounts of money flowing into non-federal elections, and to the identities of those who finance state elections.
Full Article: PACs spent more at state level than on federal campaigns.