The nearly $2.5 MILLION they paid for "SMS Texting", "List Acquisition" and "EveryAction Software" is exaclty what you think: They bought your/my email addresses & phone numbers & spammed the shit out of them, just like many other PACs/campaigns.
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I still don't understand how a payroll of $490,000 can have payroll TAXES of $318,000, but I'm neither an accountant nor a lawyer, so (shrug).
may 17, 2025, 1:36 am • 65 9 • view
This is a list of where they pay money to, right? My guess would be that because they are remitting to both the employee and the government those are listed separately, but combined represent pretax salaries. So in total salaries are $808,000
may 17, 2025, 3:32 am • 0 0 • view
Actually ignore that. The numbers seemed normal to me because I'm Canadian 😂 Looked up Florida's tax rates and that doesn't seem to add up.
may 17, 2025, 3:49 am • 1 0 • view
I’m a payroll accountant and I don’t understand it either.
may 17, 2025, 4:04 am • 1 0 • view
The other two big ticket items I don't understand: 1. $758,000 for "Allocation of Administrative Expenses" (this is almost exactly the same as the $760K gap between the "disbursements" total on the summary page and the disbursements in the detailed view, so perhaps that's the explanation?)
may 17, 2025, 1:37 am • 52 7 • view
Charles. You are out here doing great work and providing FACTS! You are a hero like Marc Elias and your followers appreciate you beyond words.
may 17, 2025, 1:53 am • 9 1 • view
You'd find similar spending ratios for non profits like St. Jude's and Shriners
may 17, 2025, 2:09 am • 0 0 • view
2. $131,000 for "Credit card payment" ...except it doesn't list what the $131K was *for*...it says "see below" but there's nothing "below" in the spreadsheet version. It's possible that this shows up elsewhere in the report & I just don't know enough about how to read it.
may 17, 2025, 1:38 am • 47 8 • view
That leaves another $110,000 or so in other/miscellaneous expenses which would've made the graph upthread impossible to read. So...there you have it: Just 28% of the $11 million they spent last cycle went to actual Democratic candidates, party committees or other PACs.
may 17, 2025, 1:40 am • 55 17 • view
All pretty standard stuff from the looks of it for a first year PAC Certainly nothing stands out as odd or out of the ordinary
may 17, 2025, 1:47 am • 1 0 • view
Gee and here I was thinking it looked like a huge fucking waste and something I'll make a point of not donating money to
may 17, 2025, 1:53 am • 3 0 • view
I'm sorry you don't understand how to build a fundraising organization?
may 17, 2025, 1:55 am • 0 0 • view
Charles Gaba surely does. What are your credentials?
may 17, 2025, 1:57 am • 2 0 • view
Now, here's the thing: Last year I did a similar deep dive into two other PACs and found similar results: ~25-30% went to actual candidates/etc; another ~10% or so went to what *I* feel are reasonable overhead expenses, and the remaining ~60-65% went to "consultants" and texting/email spamming.
may 17, 2025, 1:43 am • 53 18 • view
My criticism of Mr. Hogg & LWD PAC is NOT that they're doing anything illegal or even outside what's "standard" for political PACs. My criticism is that what they're doing is probably PERFECTLY legal and COMPLETELY standard for political PACs! blue24.org/24/04/11/ano...
may 17, 2025, 1:44 am • 79 20 • view
These PACs--including Hogg's--raise MILLIONS and then piss away huge chunks of it on "consultants" and to buy OUR email & phone info which they then spam the shit out of all of us with to the point we're sick of it. Only a fraction ends up going to campaigns to ELECT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
may 17, 2025, 1:46 am • 125 51 • view
“Only a fraction” Yeah, anything less than 100% is a fraction.
may 17, 2025, 2:38 am • 0 0 • view
I cannot say you are wrong
may 17, 2025, 11:05 am • 0 0 • view
That's what starting a PAC from scratch with no experience looks like It takes hard work, expert advice, and initial investment That's not "pissing away" anything it's building an effective organization to do crazy things like "find members" and "raise funds" in the future
may 17, 2025, 1:55 am • 1 0 • view
Then how did I managed to raise more than he has without a PAC, without sending a single text without sending a single email and without paying a single consultant, including myself?
may 17, 2025, 1:59 am • 2 0 • view
P.S. Donating directly to a candidate is also paying for texts, emails, and consultants You're just letting their campaign do that for you
may 17, 2025, 2:10 am • 0 0 • view
No idea! But if you can raise it and you know how to spend it yourself effectively then good for you! I look forward to seeing your impact for good, and hope you aren't like the vast majority of those who raise funds which ineffectually waste them instead of building lasting power and influence
may 17, 2025, 2:08 am • 0 0 • view
And AGAIN, I'VE PROVEN THAT YOU DON'T NEED EXPENSIVE CONSULTANTS to raise a lot of money for candidates! Once again: Last cycle I raised $13.5 million (13% more than LWD PAC!) and 96% went directly to the candidates! (the other ~4% went to ActBlue cc processing fees). Blue26.org
may 17, 2025, 1:49 am • 130 42 • view
Of course, I'm not a PAC, nor do I make a living at this (the only "pay" I get is that occasionally someone chips in a few bucks via the tip page as a thank you for my efforts, but that's separate from their candidate donation). I realize that running a PAC has real legal/accounting expenses, etc.
may 17, 2025, 1:53 am • 53 10 • view
I only ever contribute directly to candidate(s) and I rely a lot on your recommendations
may 17, 2025, 2:48 am • 2 0 • view
Perhaps I'm being naive, and ~10% in "legitimate" overhead is too low for a PAC. I just find it very difficult to believe that ~70% is reasonable, that's all. And with that, I'll stop.
may 17, 2025, 1:54 am • 56 8 • view
appreciate everything you do man!!! I need to donate
may 17, 2025, 2:52 am • 2 0 • view
Wow. You're a FORCE!
may 17, 2025, 1:53 am • 5 0 • view
may 17, 2025, 2:04 am • 2 0 • view
Render the dnc useless
may 17, 2025, 3:27 am • 0 0 • view
Why I don't donate to PACs. Money making ventures for consultants. Did Hogg create this PAC?
may 17, 2025, 2:48 am • 1 0 • view
Co-created it with one other guyI believe.
may 17, 2025, 2:49 am • 3 0 • view
And they're trying to elect the WRONG candidates.
may 17, 2025, 1:50 am • 2 0 • view
They sure wasted money getting my info because I blocked the first email.
may 18, 2025, 12:09 am • 1 0 • view