Before the July runoff, a new IRS on June 22 as a "527 and secretive organization organization." Those are tax- called the Conservative exemption political Coalition for Alabama ran an organizations that run extensive ad campaign that informational ads criticizing criticized Byrne's record in or praising a candidate's state government. Little was record. But their ads stop known about the group other short of recommending how than it listed its official someone should vote, and they address as a rented mail box don't mention the date of an at a package shipping store upcoming election. in Montgomery. "It's public information kind But a newly released report of advertising," Hubbert said. reviewed by The Associated The Conservative Coalition's Press shows its only donor ads criticized Byrne's record, was AEA, which provided $750, including claiming he took a 000 on June 23. That was one 500 percent raise as a state day after the coalition was official. created. His salary did jump about The coalition, in a quarterly that much when he went from filing with the Internal being a part-time senator to Revenue Service, said it a full-time chancellor making spent $711,020 — all with the $248,325 annually. But the ad Smart Media Group that placed never mentioned that Byrne the anti-Byrne ads. had to give up his successful AEA favored state Rep. Robert law practice in Mobile when Bentley of Tuscaloosa, who he became chancellor. won the Republican runoff After Byrne lost the GOP July 13 with 56 percent of runoff, the IRS received a the vote. Byrne, a former financial report from the state school board member, coalition. The IRS recently state senator and two-year made that report public on college chancellor, had its website. targeted AEA in his campaign AEA was also involved in the and accused the teachers' ads the True Republican PAC organization of being a ran against Byrne in the corrupting influence on state primary election June 1, but government. those ads followed the Byrne, of Montrose on the traditional route with True Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, Republican PAC filing regular said today that it's sad financial reports with the that people can run attack secretary of state. Those ads against a candidate but reports allowed AEA's not disclose who's behind the involvement to be made public ads until after the election. before the primary June 1. "It undermines democracy and True Republican PAC filed its it undermines the ability of final report Monday showing people to make informed it raised and spent $1.46 decisions," he said. million and is now dissolved. It's a practice that has been The money came from PACs that used in Alabama campaigns had received donations from before by business groups in AEA and others. Hubbert judicial races, but it's the estimated Tuesday that AEA first time AEA has used it, donated about the same amount AEA Executive Secretary Paul to the True Republican PAC Hubbert said Tuesday. that it spent on the Most groups running ads in Conservative Coalition. Alabama campaigns register The exact amount is with the secretary of state impossible to trace because and report their donors the money was moved through before the election. Those PAC-to-PAC transfers. groups are running ads (Associated Press Writer advocating a vote for or Phillip Rawls wrote this against a candidate at a report.) specific election. Related topics:AEA, Alabama Instead of doing that, the Education Association, Conservative Coalition for Bradley Byrne, campaign 2010 Alabama registered with the
Tags: Alabama, anti, Byrne, governor, paid, Report, runoff, video
