The Campaign Spending Commission presented some interesting data in its testimony on SB1344, which would require additional disclosure about contributions to “independent expenditure committees,” the groups that can accept unlimited amounts from donors, including corporations and unions, in the post-Citizens United world.

The bill moved out of the Senate Judiciary Committee with amendments, although the committee report is not posted, so I don’t know what the amendments are.

The testimony noted:

For the Committee members’ information, in the 2014 election, IE Committees received 25 contributions that were $10,0001 or more. Moreover, 13 of those contributions would be subject to the additional disclosure requirements.

The following table, which was attached, shows those contributors that gave $10,000 or more, along with the recipient independent expenditure committees.

Looking at that list, I have to wonder: Where are those big contributions from Monsanto and Dow made to Citizens Against the Maui County Farming Ban?

I also noted that there was no testimony from the Attorney General’s office, although the Campaign Spending Commission indicated it would be deferring to the AG’s position on constitutional issues.