38 Friday, November 1, 1985 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS $ PAC S $ J EWISH PAC s Paving The Road To Power Since 1978, Jewish PACs have increased by 75-fold and their campaign contributions have swelled by 11,880 percent. But how effective are they? And do they advance the cause of Israel to the exclusion of the rest of the traditional Jewish agenda? Mat tfrATEVS.AN? 1141100;6111 Money to Candidates Jewish PAC s All PAC s $35.2 mil I $31,350 1978 $112.6 mil $3.6 mil 1984 ., >, E 7267°414 A 5 H 1984: 4009 PAC s BY ARTHUR J. MAGIDA Special to The Jewish News At this time last year, a king's ransom was pouring into Maryland's third con- gressional district. The money came not only from outside the district, but from outside the state. All of it was destined for the race between 11-term congressman Clarence Long and challenger Helen Bentley. A hefty share of these contribu- tions did not come from individuals or from the Republican or Democratic par- ties, but from a controversial — and ex- tremely affluent — vehicle for funneling money to candidates — political action committees, more commonly known as PACs. PACs sent over $517,000 to the Long-Bentley race. Pro-Israel PACs were no slouches when it came to the campaign: Making up barely four percent of the PACs in the country, Jewish PACs more than 31 percent of the PAC money flow- ing to the third congressional district. The $160,650 that Jewish PACs pumped into Long's warchest came from around the country. It indicated both the Jewish community's regard for Long and the con- sensus among Jewish PACs — no matter where they were based — on congressional priorities. From Washington, D.C.'s Capitol PAC came $1,500. From Denver's Committee for 18 came $2,000. From New York's Roundtable PAC came $6,500. From Tucson's Desert Caucus came $10,000. There seemed to be a unanimity around the country that "Doc" Long, chairman of the House subcommittee that controlled U.S. aid to Israel, needed Jewish help. More Jewish PAC money, in fact, went to Long than to anyone else run- ning for a House seat. Helen Bentley also did well with PAC contributions. Her campaign pocketed $214,378 from PACs. Much of this came from PACs organized by such firms as the Bechtel Corporation and the Amoco, Ex- xon, Shell, Sun and Union oil companies. All of these often support pro-Arab U.S. policies. On election day, Helen Bentley won the seat that Clarence Long had held since 1962 by a two percent margin. Not a single pro-Israel PAC had con- tributed to Bentley's campaign. Not one, that is, until one month after her victory. On December 3, 1984, the Delaware Valley PAC of Philadelphia — which had spent $10,000 on Long's campaign — gave Bentley a check for $1,000. In the jargon of PACmen, this is called "Get Smart Fast" money. There is nothing illegal about it. There is nothing unethical about it. It reflects no sleight of hand accounting or backroom wheeling and dealing It was duly reported to the Federal Election Com- mission and is on public record at the com- mission's headquarters on K Street in Washington. "After November 3, Helen Bentley was the boss," said Delaware Valley PAC president Robert Golder, explaining his PAC's contribution to the congreswoman. "The Jewish community is now trying to win her over. She's tough, but she took the money." Delaware Valley's contribution to Bentley helped her settle her campaign debt. "It lets her sleep better at night," said Golder. If Golder's investment pays off, it will let him, too, sleep better at night. Delaware Valley PAC's adroitness in moving — almost overnight — from par- tisans of Clarence Long to wooers of Helen Bentley indicates the political maturity of Jewish PACs. They have the knack — and , . 1984: 75 Jewish PAC s 1978: 1 Jewish PAC 1978: 1653 PAC s Growth of PAC s 1978 to 1984 All PAC s Jewish PAC s