Follow the PAC money

Republicans who donate to the political action committee Republicans for Choice should be horrified at the findings of an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity showing most of their money going, directly or indirectly, to the PAC chairwoman, Ann Stone. She even used the donations to pay her parking tickets.

In other words, if you’re a Republican who believes in abortion rights, you're kissing your money goodbye by giving to this PAC. You probably thought the money was going to support federal or state candidates who advocate abortion rights. Think again.

Stone was spending the majority of money on her consulting contracts, plus travel, entertainment and even car repairs. Not to mention paying hundreds of dollars for her parking tickets. The center said about two-thirds of the money raised since 2006 went to her. Less than 1 percent of the money spent since 2005 went to campaigns.

It’s legal, but it’s wrong.

Bill Buzenberg, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity, said, “I doubt that those who contribute to Republicans for Choice realize how little of their money actually goes to funding campaigns. While groups like these are not legally required to spend more than a tiny percentage of their money on actual political action, it does present troubling questions about how PACs operate.”

PAC spending is unregulated … and that’s exactly how those with PACs like it.

And they count on the news media not doing the grunt work to track the dollars.

Fortunately, the Center for Public Integrity does follow the money.

But no such group exists in Nevada, and the press is hit and miss when it comes to looking at campaign finance records, ignoring the majority of most PACs.

Stone’s donations should dry up as a result of this report.