Chart of the Week: The State’s Biggest and Most Active PACs
Massachusetts-registered Political Action Committees (PACs) spent close to $7 million in 2013—more than the total PAC expenditures from the entire 2011-’12 election cycle—according to my compilation of data from reports filed with the state. As usual, labor unions were the most predominant big-spending PACs.
More than half of last year’s PAC spending, roughly $3.75 million, came from a handful of new Independent Expenditure committees—so-called “Super PACs”—that poured money into Boston’s mayoral contest. Whether that makes last year an anomaly or a new baseline will likely be tested in this year’s gubernatorial contest.
The 300+ regular old PACs spent more than $3 million last year, well on or ahead of typical pace for a year in between state elections. Those PACs entered 2014 with more than $6 million in their accounts, collectively.
About half of these groups’ spending tends to go to candidates in contributions up to $500 per calendar year. The Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers’ District Council led the way in 2013, giving more than $100,000 to candidates in 2013.
Some goes to other committees, including some large transfers to national committees. For example, Pipefitters Local 537 sent $112,000 to the federal Super PAC run by the United Association of Journeymen and Pipefitters, which in turn contributed that money to the American Working Families Independent Expenditure committee back in Massachusetts, which spent the funds to help elect Marty Walsh mayor of Boston.
Some PACs also have administrative expenses, printing and postage, and costs from running or attending events. A few have substantial other expenditures. SEIU 1199’s PAC spent more than $50,000 on advertising. The committees to elect Democrats to the state house and senate conduct research and polling.
What I’ve listed below are the PACs (not including Super PACs) that either raised more than $50,000 last year, spent more than $50,000 last year, or had more than $50,000 on hand at the end of the year. As you can see, some committees like to stockpile, and others prefer to dole out their money as they go.
These 29 PACs, by my calculations, gave $661,185 (36 percent) directly to candidates last year, gave another $293,585 (16 percent) to other committees, and spent $874,256 (48 percent) on everything else.
| PAC | Raised 2013 | Spent 2013 | Year-End Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Federation of Teachers MA | $46,646 | $28,904 | $52,241 |
| Boston Police Patrolman's Association | $60,200 | $13,244 | $261,113 |
| Carpenters Local 33 | $14,878 | $10,600 | $67,058 |
| Teamsters DRIVE PAC Chapter 25 | $53,482 | $48,756 | $77,730 |
| Committee for a Democratic House | $137,351 | $177,204 | $47,714 |
| Committee for a Democratic Senate | $58,550 | $42,333 | $27,481 |
| Cross and Shields | $17,625 | $11,231 | $54,668 |
| Elevator Constructors Local 4 | $28,125 | $18,366 | $79,189 |
| IBEW Local 103 | $73,468 | $28,524 | $106,155 |
| IBEW Local 2222 | $99,564 | $96,249 | $9,227 |
| Ironworkers Local 7 | $49,603 | $89,414 | $35,314 |
| Laborers District Council MA & Northern New England | $762,305 | $111,152 | $701,567 |
| MA Association of Realtors | $60,551 | $63,523 | $112,515 |
| MA Bay Transportation Authority Union Local 600 | $5,117 | $3,500 | $56,023 |
| MA Correction Officers Federated Union | $45,962 | $31,507 | $112,948 |
| MA Dental Society | $82,349 | $39,837 | $231,722 |
| MA Dental Society People's Committee | $336 | $6,722 | $146,977 |
| MA Police Association | $30,176 | $6,912 | $355,198 |
| New England Regional Council of Carpenters | $74,342 | $40,133 | $154,531 |
| Operating Engineers Local 98 | $8,378 | $4,264 | $70,959 |
| Pipefitters Local 537 | $166,452 | $143,466 | $302,405 |
| Plumbers Union Local 12 | $77,547 | $60,641 | $61,153 |
| Professional Firefighters MA People's Committee | $78,181 | $62,261 | $49,530 |
| Retired Public Employees | $264,910 | $277,326 | $796,351 |
| SEIU 1199 | $488,676 | $189,405 | $567,178 |
| SEIU Local 615 Member Action* | $78,790 | $83,225 | $542 |
| Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 People's Committee | $74,387 | $30,065 | $60,784 |
| State Police Association MA | $65,572 | $35,250 | $116,202 |
| Utility Workers of America AFL-CIO Local 369 | $35,409 | $75,012 | $26,308 |
* = January through June only; year-end report not yet filed
