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The writer, of Valparaiso, Nebraska, is issues chair of Common Cause Nebraska.

According to data compiled by The World-Herald, the Ricketts family has poured more than $3.6 million into Nebraska political campaigns since 1999. Pete donated $1.8 million; his parents, Joe and Marlene, kicked in $1,7 million, and his brother Todd chipped in $33,531. All of this to advance the family’s favorite candidates and causes.

Nothing wrong here. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that free speech and money are the same thing. Since Nebraska’s Campaign Finance Limitation Act was declared unconstitutional in 2012, our state has no protection against big money, and those who have it get to speak louder and more often than those who don’t.

But what about the “dark money” groups, the 501©s that are not required to disclose their donors? How did these hit-and-run groups — such as Trees of Liberty, the 10th Amendment Project and the Alliance for Taxpayers — get the resources to attack Nebraska candidates and initiatives? Some of these groups can be traced to Arlington, Virginia, home of Freedom Partners, a 501©(6) that is part of the Koch brothers’ political network and to which individuals who may want to remain anonymous can donate.