PACs and the Congressional Supermarket: The Currency is Complex

Abstract

Although PACs attempt to influence the legislative process with contributions, this research finds little evidence that the contributions of 120 PACs affiliated with 10 organizations affected the voting patterns of the House members who served continuously from 1975 to 1982. In the few cases in which a relationship between contributions and a member's votes is established, the analysis indicates that contributions are a surrogate measure of a more important and larger package of support for the member from the interest groups. Two-stage least squares regression models are used to test the relationship between PAC contributions and a member's votes, controlling for the incumbent's ideology and party, and the political leaning of the district. Interviews with PAC officials supplement the statistical analysis.