- 974 general-purpose political action committees (PACs) in Texas reported
$56 million in expenditures from 1995 through 1997.
- Half of all of these PAC expenditures came from the 36 largest PACs,
which spent more than $300,000 apiece.
- PACs directly affiliated with businesses spent 66% percent of the money
($37.2 million), ideological and single-issue PACs spent 29% ($16 million)
and labor PACs spent 5% ($2.6 million).
- The Texas Democratic Party ran the biggest PAC in Texas ($4.1 million).
50 Democratic/Liberal PACs spent $6.8 million, edging out the $6.3 million
spent by 157 Republican/Conservative PACs.
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- The largest single-issue PACs were Texans for Lawsuit Reform ($1.3
million) and the A+ PAC for Parental School Choice ($452,306). This $1.75
million mainly benefited conservative Republican candidates and causes.
- The Texas Association of Realtors had the largest business-related
PAC ($1.4 million), which narrowly out spent the largest PAC affiliated
with a specific business: Vinson & Elkins.
- The Texas State Teachers Association had the largest labor PAC, which
spent $342,368.
- The election year 1996 accounted for 56% of all expenditures; spending
was up 22% in the non-election year of 1997 compared to the previous non-election
year of 1995.
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