Parsing Iowans for Tax Relief fundraising

The PAC (Political Action Committee) run by Iowans for Tax Relief recently filed its fundraising data for the first six months of the year with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (all PACs are required to do so). The Iowans for Tax Relief report caught my attention because Iowans for Tax Relief president Ed Failor, Junior, said a public hearing "meltdown" at the statehouse had proven to be a fundraising bonanza for his organization. 

However, earlier today in a telephone conversation Failor said it was the organization's non-profit — a 501(c)(4) – that benefitted, as it finances ITR's lobbying at the statehouse.  There was no real effort, according to Failor, to mine donations for the organizations PAC at the same time.  PAC donations, of course, are distributed to candidates who are friendly to the group's cause. 

The public hearing was held Tuesday, March 31, 2009.  According to the records ITR submitted, the Iowans for Tax Relief PAC received the following during the reporting period:

• In the week following the public hearing, the PAC received $380 in donations.

• In the period after the public hearing — from April 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009 — the group raised about $13,000. 

• In the period from April 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009, David and Jean Stanley contributed $5300.

• In the first six months of 2009, the Iowans for Tax Relief PAC received $32,535.33 in contributions.

• In the first six months of 2007 (a good comparison since '07 and '09 are both "off" years — meaning neither is an election year), the Iowans for Tax Relief PAC received $57,281.74 in contributions.

"Was, in fact, our fundraising down a litte?  Yeah, a little bit," Failor said this morning via phone, adding their "main push" for PAC contributions comes after Labor Day.  "During the legislative session we focus on raising money for our 501(c)(4)…I'm not concerned at this moment."  There is no public reporting requirement for 501(c)(4) organizations.