Executive Director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics
Executive Director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics, a nonprofit nonpartisan group that follows state election spending
PROFILE
Ed Bender
Guest
FROM Ed Bender
To the Point
Record-Breaking Expenditure on Election Members of Congress have been investigated, prosecuted and sent to prison this year for converting special interest contributions into public policy. Nevertheless, there's more money in this year's mid-term election campaigns – perhaps as high as $3.1 billion -- than there was in the presidential races two years ago. New records are being set at the state level, too. Where does the money come from, where does it go, and what's the return on investment? Corporate America contributes to both parties, but it's difficult to establish a quid pro quo even when votes go their way. Can the corrupting influence of money be stamped out, or is it the cost of democracy, American style?
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