Presidential Candidate Rudy Giuliani - Primary PAC Investigation
(covers first 6 months of 2007CY contributions)
September: 15, 25
Name Groupings: A-E, F-J, K-O, P-T, U-Z
Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani (R-NY) appears to have only one PAC, which also makes it his primary PAC. Similar to the initial investigation into Sen. Clinton’s, this investigation will be conducted by contributor last name to make it a manageable slice of the whole pie. At the start of this investigation, there were a total of 22,806 individual contribution records.
A = 806 individual contributions for a total of $1,082,441; avg contribution $1343 (rounded up to the nearest dollar). There was a total of 4 refund records $9450. All looks in order. In comparison to the first PAC investigation, Rudy’s PAC records seem meticulous. There was a eagerness to correctly account for everything, as additional detail was found (in comparison to the other candidate PAC investigation which was fraught with strange entries). But this is just the beginning; perhaps issues will be found as the investigation moves forward.
25 Sept 2007 - A Note on Format Change
It’s been 10 days since the last post - for two reasons. One, the blog underwent a format change to help make it a bit more organized and readable, and two I was thinking of how to make the individual post findings a bit more palatable.
So, I will segment not by alpha on the beginning letter of the last name, but on groups of letters and present a summary of the findings for that group. An example of this would be A-E, F-J, and so-forth. I hope that will make it easier to understand as to the impact the PACs have on fund raising, the errors that can be discovered, and blatant PAC accounting B.S. I hope this works for my readers. Of course this will take a bit more time to process and you will not see as many posting as often as in the past. Check back often for the next update, and I hope you will like the new approach. Cheers.
6,201 contribution records for $8,502,431 in contributions. Twenty-five (25) refund records found for a total of $53,420. 2 records of refunds with no contributions found for a total of $120 (Rudy’s PAC giving money away for free?). One over-contribution without an offsetting refund - over the limit by $4600. This will be inquired into at a later date, with POGO.
4,336 contribution records totaling $5,724,732 in contributions. Four (4) records totaling $2,110 in refunds found issued to 4 individuals without a contribution record. Seven (7) records of contributions over the legal limit allowed per individual totaling $12,200.
5,258 contribution records for a contribution total of $6,763,413 and 21 records total $31,340 in refunds. Of the refunds issued, $290 were issued to 4 individuals who had no record of a contribution. There was 1 refund record that issued $400 more in refunds versus what was contributed.
5522 contribution records with a total amount of $7,069,589. Thirty-three refund records found with a total of $68,250. Three (3) instances of refunds issued totaling $650, to individuals who did not have a contribution record.
1817 contributions for a total of $2,241,177. Thirty-six refund records totaling $59,675. One contribution over the legal limit (with no refund) for a total individual contribution of $7,200 ($4,600 is the legal maximum donation amount). Four refunds made to individuals that do not have a contribution record, totaling $375 (don’t know if stupidity is a legal infraction!).
Summary of Findings:
23,134 contribution records reviewed, with a total of $30,301,342. On-hundred nineteen refund records found for a total of $214,795. Seventeen records of refunds provided to individuals with no record of contribution posted, totaling $3,545. Nine (9) instances found where people had provided more money than legally allowed ($4,600 per individual is the maximum contribution allowed), with a total of $19,100; of this, there appears to be at least two instances where people were incorrectly allowed to remain over the legal limit (i.e., no refund provided to bring the amount back to the maximum allowable total).
Overall, the R. Giuliani PAC seems to keep better records than those found of the Democratic candidate H. Clinton. However, either the R.G. PAC doesn’t appear to know how to follow the process, or there is inconsistency in the people maintaining the F.E.C. web-site posting the records. Many records were found that issued refunds, but were not classified under the heading of refund.
