Disclosure, Part 4

In a series of posts earlier this year [1, 2, and 3] I wrote harshly of the inner workings of and motivations behind the pro-same sex marriage political action committee MN United, founded by Democrat Party insider Richard Carlbom.  It turns out, based on more recent results, that I was not harsh enough.

Perusing the 1^st Quarter 2014 filing made by the MN United PAC at the state Campaign Finance Board makes for surprisingly interesting reading.

As before, the largest donor to the MN United PAC is Colorado software tycoon Tim Gill, who gave $25,000 last quarter.

Tied for third place, as largest donor, was Laurie Halverson, who gave $1,000.  MN United lists Ms. Halverson’s occupation as “homemaker,” a quaint description for such a progressive organization.  Halverson is better known as Eagan's Democrat state representative.  As coincidence would have it, Rep. Halverson’s campaign committee received a donation in that exact same amount the previous year from MN United PAC.

In the first three months of 2014, the group took in a bit over $43,000 and spent a few pennies shy of $39,000.  At this point in the election cycle, most independent political groups are in the fund raising mode:  accumulating cash to be spent closer to the election.  Not MN United PAC.  The group has taken in almost a half-million dollars in its first 11 months of operation, and has only $8,500 or so in cash on hand.

Most of the $39,000 spent by MN United in 2014 Carlbom put in his own pocket, paying his United Strategies firm $21,000 for “consulting--management.”

Not a single dollar was given by MN United to a candidate or a political party.  Not a single dollar was spent by MN United, independently, on behalf of any candidate.  All of the money spent was spent on administrative and overhead items, except a single contribution of $1,500 to Project 515.

It would seem more efficient to have Mr. Gill mail his checks directly to Carlbom, without having to bother with the charade of the PAC.

Shouldn’t a registered political fund be obligated to actually spend money on, you know, politics?  Elsewhere in the nonprofit world, the rule of thumb is that a well-run charity should spend less than 30 percent of its income on overhead, with the rest going directly to delivering programs.  For MN United PAC, in the first quarter of 2014, the overhead ratio was something closer to 96 percent.

After almost a year in operation, I think it’s fair to ask the question: for what reason does MN United PAC exist?  I originally believed the purpose of the PAC was to trade on a wave of bipartisan good will to raise big dollars it would then funnel exclusively to Democrats.

At this point, one has to wonder if the PAC exists for the personal benefit of Richard Carlbom.  In its first 11 months, the PAC has paid Richard Carlbom—either in payroll or fees to his firm—more than $100,000 in total and more than 20 percent of what the PAC received in contributions.

Nice work if you can get.