PACs Spent $18M in NJ Last Year

A new report from New Jersey's state campaign finance monitor finds that political action committees put $18 million into New Jersey elections last year.

Wednesday's report marks the first time the Election Law Enforcement Commission has analyzed PACs this way. The report finds that unions were responsible for a little over half of that money. Professional and trade groups were next with about one-fourth of the money.

Ideological groups and others trialed.

The bulk of the money went to legislative candidates with smaller sums given to county and local committees and local candidates.

PAC donors heavilly favored Democrats -- and even more heavily favored incumbents.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)