Democratic operatives are escalating the money-in-politics arms race ahead of the 2012 election when control of both the White House and Congress is at stake. And their nascent fund-raising efforts have reportedly targeted several deep-pocketed Democratic donors.

Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, pictured right, was one of the first donors to the new effort for a larger Democratic-aligned independent spending apparatus, and, according to Politico, he has agreed to help raise money for two new committees, called Priorities USA and Priorities USA Action.

Also described by Politico as among the first donors to the new Priorities groups are Rob McKay, the head of the McKay Family Foundation; Ellen Malcolm, the founder of EMILY’s List; and Harold Ickes, a former aide to President Bill Clinton and adviser to Hillary Clinton during her presidential bid in 2008.



Together, these four individuals have donated about $3.5 million to federal political candidates and groups since the 1990 election cycle, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics. That includes $440,960 donated to Democratic candidates, parties and Democratic-aligned groups during the 2010 election cycle alone.

Katzenberg, McKay, Malcolm and Ickes all have long track records of opening their wallets for Democratic candidates and groups.

Since the 1990 cycle, Katzenberg, along with his wife Marilyn, has donated more than $2.3 million to federal Democratic candidates and parties and Democratic-aligned groups, according to the Center’s research. That includes a $100,000 contribution during the 2004 election cycle to MoveOn.org’s federally focused 527 committee. And during the 2010 election cycle alone, the Katzenbergs donated $225,100 to Democratic candidates and committees, the Center’s research indicates.

McKay, along with his wife, Anna, have, meanwhile, given more than $305,500 to Democratic candidates and groups since the 1990 cycle, according to the Center’s research. This includes $100,000 to the America’s Families First Action Fund, the biggest Democratic-aligned super PAC of the 2010 election cycle.

Malcolm, the founder of EMILY’s List — a political organization that backs Democratic candidates who support abortion rights — has personally donated more than $553,000 to federal candidates and committees since the 1990 election cycle. That includes $34,300 in donations during the 2010 election cycle.

And Ickes, along with his wife, Laura, has donated more than $235,950 to federal candidates and committees since the 1990 election cycle, according to the Center’s research. During the 2010 election cycle alone, the Ickes donated $68,650.

These big-dollar donors are unlikely to be the last individuals tapped by the new Priorities committees.

The two new high-profile groups make up a two-pronged strategy by two former White House officials — Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney. (Former Bill Clinton adviser Paul Begala — who along with his wife, Diane, has donated $51,600 to Democrats over the years, according to the Center’s research — is also a part of the Priorities groups’ leadership team, Politico reported.)

The first prong is the nonprofit organization called Priorities USA. Since Priorities USA will be registered with the Internal Revenue Service under section 501(c)(4) of the U.S. tax code, be allowed to keep information about its donors secret. At the same time, it will be allowed to produce electioneering communications and issue ads that mention federal politicians but don’t expressly advocate for their election or defeat. And furthermore, it will be able to fund independent expenditures — advertisements that do overtly advocate for or against federal politicians. Under federal law, the group should not have a primary purpose of engaging in politics, although many 501(c)(4) organizations spent a considerable amount of time and money engaging in political activity anyway.

The second prong will be the super PAC called Priorities USA Action. Since this group will be registered with the Internal Revenue Service under section 527 of the U.S. tax code, it will be required to regularly disclose the identities of its donors. It will be exclusively used to make independent expenditures — advertisements that do overtly advocate for or against federal politicians — and, according to federal law, it, like its 501(c)(4) counterpart, cannot directly donate money to candidates.

Burton and Sweeney’s approach is modeled after efforts last year by top Republican operatives.

Last year, Republicans including former Bush strategist Karl Rove helped launch a new super PAC called American Crossroads, and then, a few months later, created a sister nonprofit organization known as Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies. The two groups reportedly raised more than $71 million during 2010 and have a goal of raising more than $120 million for the 2012 elections.

The creation of these new liberal groups, and particularly Priorities USA, the new Democratic-aligned nonprofit organization has, however, been criticized by some Democrats and voices within the campaign finance reform community.

On Sunday, in an editorial titled, “Democrats, Seduced by Secrets Dollars,” the New York Times editorial board attacked Burton and Sweeney’s new efforts.

“A political system built on secret, laundered money will inevitably lead toward an increased culture of influence and corruption,” the Times‘ editorial board chastised. “Democrats would attract more support as a principled party that refused to follow the Republicans down that dark alley.”

For their part, the Priorities groups hope to raise more than $100 million during the 2012 election cycle.

Center for Responsive Politics senior researchers Dan Auble and Douglas Weber contributed to this report, as did researchers Carolyn Sharpe and Spencer MacColl.



For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: Feel free to distribute or cite this material, but please credit the Center for Responsive Politics.For permission to reprint for commercial uses, such as textbooks, contact the Center: [email protected]

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