Like all politicians, Rick Snyder understands the importance of raising money. Since taking office, the governor of Michigan has gathered funds for all manner of political and policy ventures. Often he has found that the handiest vehicle for his efforts has been a type of nonprofit group known as a 501(c)(4).
Back when he was pondering a presidential run, Snyder used a 501(c)(4) as a de facto exploratory campaign committee. More recently, his 501(c)(4) gave out $1,000 checks to more than a dozen legislative allies who looked potentially vulnerable. He used another group like this to pay for public relations help amidst the Flint water crisis.
All of these Snyder creations have one thing in common. They don’t disclose the names of their contributors. Legally, they don’t have to. (Snyder’s office, like those of other governors, declined to comment for this article.)
Electoral politics has been all but overrun in the past couple of years by 501(c)(4)s and other vehicles that enfeeble the idea of contribution limits and free up outside groups to influence the course of campaigns with virtual anonymity. Now they are being used heavily between election years as well. Incumbent officeholders are finding that 501(c)(4)s, inelegantly named after a section of the tax code, are excellent ways to advance their personal agendas. They may not meet the definition of slush funds, but some of them come close.
Read more at:
http://www.governing.com/topics/elections/gov-dark-money-campaign-finance-state-politics.html
