Campaign contributions are difficult to track.

In January, the United States Supreme Court overturned limits on corporate election spending, basing its decision, in part, on the assertion that campaign finance records are more open and accessible than ever before.

"With the advent of the Internet, disclosure of expenditures can provide shareholders and citizens with the information needed to hold corporations and elected officials accountable for their positions and supporters," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the court’s majority opinion.

ProPublica decided to test this premise as we pored over campaign contribution filings to tell the story, co-published on April 16 in the Washington Post, of 16 lawmakers who held fundraisers at two Bruce Springsteen concerts last year, many of them in sky boxes rented from companies and special interests. We wanted to know if the records the court had referenced could show us who was getting face time with lawmakers at these pricey events, information that’s key to determining whether special access was influencing legislative decisions.

While we found many records online, none of them clearly indentified those who attended the fundraisers or how much money was raised. At best, we ended up with a handful of possible attendees. At worst, we were left with no clues at all.

The Federal Election Commission requires politicians to disclose the dates and amounts of contributions they receive in periodic reports. Corporate and special interest political action committees (PACs) are also required to file reports with the FEC, disclosing the money they contribute. "In a perfect world, they match up," FEC spokesperson Mary Brandenberger told ProPublica.

Link:
http://www.propublica.org/feature/campaign-contribution-records-are-open-but-hardly-transparent