Charter School Industry drops $63,000 plus into Connecticut legislative races
With $30,000 in “Dark Money” from a New York based entity called Real Reform Now Network and thousands more from Connecticut’s deep-pocket charter school players, a political action committee in Connecticut is funneling tens of thousands of dollars into its effort to promote the election of a handful of candidates running for the Connecticut General Assembly.
Charters Care, a political action committee registered with the Connecticut State Elections Committee and tied to the Northeast Charter School Network, was formed in July 2013. NECN’s Connecticut Director, Jeremiah Grace, serves the PAC’s Chair.
The dark money Real Reform Now Network is also affiliated with the Northeast Charter School Network. The group’s contact of record is Jill Shahen, who also serves as the Managing Director of the New York based Northeast Charter School Network.
As for the rising role of Dark Money group, the Center for Responsive Politics explains;
Politically active nonprofits – principally 501(c) (4) s and 501(c) (6) s – have become a major force in federal elections over the last three cycles. The term “dark money” is often applied to this category of political spender because these groups do not have to disclose the sources of their funding – though a minority do disclose some or all of their donors, by choice or in response to specific circumstances.
These organizations can receive unlimited corporate, individual, or union contributions that they do not have to make public, and though their political activity is supposed to be limited, the IRS – which has jurisdiction over these groups – by and large has done little to Charter School Industry drops $63,000 plus into Connecticut legislative races - Wait What?: