(URGENT UPDATE, 10/21 at 6:45pm: RAGA has amended its IRS filing in response to Arizona's Politics article and inquiry, to reflect that APS has *only* contributed $175,000 to its effort in the Arizona AG's race. Full details here.)
(UPDATE, 10/21 at 2:30pm: DAGA and RAGA have both filed new Arizona spending reports, including another $440K spent by the former.)
The parent company of APS - Pinnacle West Capital - is spending (at least) $425,000 telling Arizonans about the "dangerous views" of Democratic AG nominee Felecia Rotellini.
(See accompanying article on the total Arizona expenditures of RAGA and DAGA, and their spots on the #50ShadesOfDarkMoney spectrum: "National Republican AG Group Goes Dark, Outraises Democratic Counterpart More Than 4:1 In 3rd Quarter; Explains 6:1 Difference In Arizona Spending (#50ShadesOfDarkMoney)")
While APS is widely-believed to be secretly spending large amounts of money on the Corporation Commission election, its $425,000 contribution to the Republican Attorneys General Association is the first (material*) political expenditure to be brought to light, after RAGA filed its quarterly report with the Internal Revenue Service last week.
Interestingly, the third quarter (July - Sept) report (below the jump) only lists one Pinnacle West $175,000 contribution, on September 15 - the day before Arizona's Politics reported on the $1.6M ad buy by RAGA. However, it indicates that the aggregate year to date contribution is $425,000.
Arizona's Politics previously reported on the partially-transparent sources of funding of both RAGA and Democratic counterpart DAGA. Embedded in that analysis are copies of RAGA's IRS filings for the first two quarters of 2014 - neither lists a contribution from Pinnacle West or APS. Arizona's Politics is inquiring about the significant discrepancy, and will supplement this report as needed.
RAGA has blown past the reported $1.6M budget that it had for the Arizona race, perhaps because of the additional contributions by APS. As of last Tuesday, RAGA has spent $1,757,961 in Arizona (TV and mailers). The most recent ad hit the airwaves over the weekend, and is titled "Dangerous Views."
(See accompanying article on the total Arizona expenditures of RAGA and DAGA, and their spots on the #50ShadesOfDarkMoney spectrum: "National Republican AG Group Goes Dark, Outraises Democratic Counterpart More Than 4:1 In 3rd Quarter; Explains 6:1 Difference In Arizona Spending (#50ShadesOfDarkMoney)")
(Arizona attorney Paul Weich contributed to the research and reporting in this article.)
* Pinnacle West has contributed $5,000 to two related independent expenditure groups suppoting Republican candidates for the Arizona House and Senate. ("Senate Victory PAC" and "House Victory PAC")
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