Jonathan Salant
04/18/23
(Post-Gazette) After they were elected to Congress last November, Western Pennsylvania lawmakers spent the first three months of their terms raising money for their re-election campaigns. “Forgoing corporate PAC money is a powerful gesture because corporate PACs represent the largest source of direct PAC giving in the country,” said Bawadden Sayed, a spokesman for End Citizens United, which supports stronger campaign finance regulations. “It’s an easy source of money in Washington, especially once members receive their committee assignments. The industries they oversee attempt to curry favor with members by inviting them to swanky events and handing out corporate PAC checks. It’s just as shady as it’s portrayed in movies and TV shows.”