PACs on PACs

Political action committees (PACs) are a major source of campaign funds, and the amount of money they inject into the political system has grown to huge proportions. In the 1986 election cycle, PACs contributed over $132 million to House and Senate campaignsa 966 percent increase from 1974. The unprecedented sums spent in the 1986 Congressional campaign created a momentum toward reforms to stem the flow of money, particularly special interest money, in Congressional races. Although a number of scholarly studies on PACs exist, PAC officials have had little opportunity to be heard. Based on 50 interviews with PAC officials, this book addresses that need.