Money Talks: Corporate PACs and Political Influence, by Dan Clawson, Alan Neustadtl and Denise Scott

Part 1 Money changes everything: why does the air stink? - the candidates perspective, the current law, corporate PACS our research - the interviews overview and background - what is power? business is different, the limits to business power. Part 2 Raising money and running the PAC: establishing the rules - a brief history of compaign finances, SUN-PAC - the hidden face of power raising money - campaigns to raise money, coercion to contribute, untapped material running the PAC - the PACs internal structure, increasing managers' political participation, democracy in action? , Congress approves. Part 3 Gifts - networks of obligations: understanding gifts - deciding on contributions, requests and member pressure, the decision process, pragmatic criteria, ideological contributions, controversy - why and how often? giving more than a campaign contribution - PAC contributions build networks, conclusion. Part 4 Access - I can get to waxman for 250: myth one - key notes are the issue - high visibility issue, low-visibility issues and non-issues, what a typical bill is like, the bottom line, business hegemony myth two - money is explicitly exchanged for votes - are these loopholes available to everyone? , keeping track and knowing the players, getting access and shaping a solution, defending the changer and getting it through, the PAC is only a part of the process, why corporations can do what others can't myth three - political party matters - myth four - business wins without effort - language and euphemism, policy implications. Part 5 Ideology - defending free enterprise: characteristics of an ideological orientation - relation to lobbying, candidates and races, a formula for self-destruction the rise and fall of ideological behaviour - the ideological mobilization of the 1970s, the PAC contribution to this ideological mobilization, did this mobilization make a difference, the Democrats - taking care of business assessing corporate ideological donations. Part 6 Business unity, business power: building business unity - learning about issues, asking each other for money, can industry competitors work together? , business unity beyond the industry, how campaign finance laws coerce business to unity control of the economy - levels of inequality, business decisions, the pinto gas tank, spending the money, confronting business power. Part 7 They might start running it strictly for the votes: PAC directors on PACs - A Tool and Nothing Else, reforms aren't imminent, By the Time they change It, It's Too Late piecememal reform won't work - the purpose of the current system, economy and policy - contradictory principles, what should campaign reform aim to do? public financing - objections and arguments against, arguments for, new rules for primaries be realistic. Consequences: the character of congress, political change, business power.