Which PACs are sitting on over $12 million in stocks, bonds, real estate, and other Investments?

Spotcheck

The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
Online news
September 30, 2002
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In this issue:

* Which PACs are sitting on over $12 million in stocks, bonds, real estate,
and other Investments?
* Scan the Contributor Profiles Index
* Join the Illinois political reform group on Yahoo.com
* Support ICPR
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* Which PACs are sitting on over $12 million in stocks, bonds,
real estate, and other Investments

While most people think of political action committees as campaign
warchests, some long-standing politicians view them as retirement funds.
Dozens of PACs have invested holdings with a combined worth over $12
million, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and other holdings. Not all
of these have been great buys; indeed, House Republican Leader Lee Daniels
lost over $160,000 on a single stock. But there are other reasons for all
voters to be concerned about PAC investments. Candidates who invest their
PAC funds are at risk of conflicts of interest that aren't reported on their
statements of economic interest.

Several states ban PAC investments all together, and many more limit PAC
investments to government securities. Illinois has no restrictions at all.
One candidate is even flouting the state's disclosure requirement, hiding
his PAC's interest in a $200,000 office building.

To learn more, read the new issue briefing at:
http://ilcampaign.org/issuebriefings/ib14.html
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* Scan the Contributor Profiles Index

ICPR has profiled over 150 major donors to Illinois politicians. For the
first time, we've created an alphabetical index to these profiles. If you
bump up against a donor you don't know, check our list; you might be
surprised at what you find.

To find the index, look in the Sunshine Database section of our website, at:
http://ilcampaign.org/search/

Along with the contributor profiles index, you'll find profiles of all
candidates for statewide executive, legislative, and appellate judicial
offices.
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* Join the Illinois political reform group on Yahoo.com

Always trying to make ilcampaign.org more interactive, ICPR is now the proud
sponsor of a discussion group on Yahoo.com. The listserv gives concerned
people around Illinois an opportunity to voice opinions and discuss ways of
improving Illinois' political culture. Go to groups.yahoo.com/group/icpr to
sign up!
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