Following the Money Behind Mystery Attack Ads

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130291350&f=1002&sc=igg2

by NPR Staff

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on how much money corporations could spend on political ads. The decision came about through a case called Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission.

As a result of the Supreme Court's ruling, groups such as Americans for New Leadership and Concerned Taxpayers for America have come out to take advantage of the new rules. Some of these groups are known as 501c4's, which is a tax designation, and others are simply referred to as "super-PACS."

Under the new rules, these groups are not required to say who they are or how they're funded, and it's very difficult to find out any information about them.

Concerned Taxpayers for America v. Peter DeFazio