Will the Revolution Be Monetized? Bernie Sanders' 'Dark Money' Org

[lapucelle]

94. It is, by definition "dark money".

But as he ramps up his second bid for the presidency, Sanders is drawing support from a "dark money" nonprofit run by close associates and funded, in part, by anonymous six-figure contributions.

Our Revolution was organized as a dark money organization. Donors are not disclosed.

Bernie Sanders is back — kind of. A new group, Our Revolution, launched this week to continue the movement that his campaign started by raising and spending money to support “candidates in lockstep with Sanders’ ideals.” But it’s disappointing many who agreed with Sanders’ call for getting money out of politics because as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, the group would not be required to disclose its donors.

https://sunlightfoundation.com/2016/08/26/bernie-sanderss-new-political-group-wont-have-to-disclose-its-donors/

501(c)(4): Also known as “dark money groups,” these make up some of the most relevant political nonprofits today. Technically deemed “social welfare organizations,” these groups can’t have political activity — such as making ads advocating for or against candidates — as their “primary purpose”; this has unofficially been interpreted to mean they must spend less than 50 percent of their activities on politics or elections. But they can raise unlimited amounts of cash from individuals and organizations alike — without having to disclose who contributed that money. Here’s a disclosure form for Crossroads GPS, a conservative 501(c)(4) that spent more than $120 million on the 2012 elections — note the $22.5 million donation with no name attached. One thing to keep in mind when trying to track the political activity of these groups: (c)(4)s that spend money directly advocating for or against a candidate (an independent expenditure) or make electioneering communications must report that to the FEC.

https://sunlightfoundation.com/2016/02/17/a-glossary-of-campaign-finance-in-the-u-s/#501(c)(4)

From an August 2016 story in a different Vermont newspaper:

Sanders’ new group exempt from campaign finance rules

Sen. Bernie Sanders is building a political organization that will be able to avoid financial disclosure and influence policy from the shadows, a “dark money” strategy he has railed against for years, including on the presidential campaign trail.

The organization, called Our Revolution, will operate as a nonprofit 501(c)(4) — a designation that does not require disclosure of donors or spending because of its status as a social welfare organization. Political action committees, on the other hand, are under the authority and disclosure requirements of the Federal Election Commission rather than the Internal Revenue Service, which oversees nonprofits.

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"]In recent years, 501(c)(4)s have been used by political interests to skirt disclosure rules while influencing public policy. While roughly $10 million was funneled into politics through 501(c)(4)s in the 2010 election, more than $50 million has flooded into the system this year, according to the Center For Responsive Politics.

Sanders frequently railed against this type of influence — often called “dark money” — during his presidential bid, including during a CNN debate in April when he questioned Clinton’s ties to such groups.

“Let’s talk about judgment,” Sanders said then. “Let’s talk about super PACs and 501(c)(4)s, money which is completely undisclosed. Where does the money come from? Do we really feel confident about a candidate saying that she’s going to bring change in America when she is so dependent on big-money interests? I don’t think so.”

The danger, according to Sanders, is that even though the money from a 501(c)(4) cannot be used to promote a particular candidate, the groups can produce “issue ads” to attack an opponent or influence legislation.

https://vtdigger.org/2016/08/22/sanders-new-group-exempt-campaign-finance-rules/