Report: Millions spent on 7th District

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Of the $14.1 million dollars spent by the two sides in the 7th Congressional Race in 2010; over 65% of the funds came from outside groups, according to a new report from a nonpartisan organization.

The Michigan Campaign Finance Network released a report Thursday stating that while Rep. Mark Schauer (D-MI) spent $3.3 million and Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) spent $1.6 million on the campaign, outside groups supporting and opposing the two candidates spent $9.2 million.

According to the report , top outside spenders supporting Rep. Walberg were:

• National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), $1,468,370
• Michigan Republican Party, $1,455,815
• American Future Fund, $506,761
• American Action Network, $370,000
• Americans for Prosperity, $322,763.

Top outside spenders supporting Schauer were:

• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), $1,450,922
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), $1,417,860
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU), $437,567
• League of Conservation Voters, $386,327
• Blue Green Alliance, $327,246.

The report cites the 2010 decision by the Supreme Court that c hanged how businesses can participate in elections as a reason for the major increase in outsider spending.

Information in the report was collected from the candidates’ campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, the Center for Responsive Politics’ compilations of independent expenditures and electioneering communications filed with the F.E.C., and television spending data collected by the M.C.F.N. from public files of Michigan broadcasters and cable systems.