LUBBOCK -- Campaign finance records cannot account for all the money spent on advertising over an anti-abortion policy proposal in Amarillo that voters rejected last month, an analysis by The Texas Tribune and Sunlight Research Center found.
In the months leading up to the vote, thousands of dollars poured into advertising for and against Proposition A, a local ballot measure that garnered national attention. The proposal would have opened the door for private lawsuits against people accused of using local streets and highways to drive someone else for an out-of-state abortion.
Previously filed local campaign records, coupled with social media spending reports and federally required notices for television ads, offer a window into the spending behind the election. However, the true cost of the fight is still unknown and may never be fully disclosed due to certain tax laws.
"It's not a candidate running for election or reelection," Greenberg said. "You have groups funding and either supporting or opposing the initiative, who are not familiar with the specifics of the filings, details, or dates."
A final round of campaign finance records for the 2024 election are due Jan. 15. However, the Tribune and Sunlight analysis found apparent spending during the earlier reporting period that is not accounted for.
Sunlight attempted to identify all spending on political ads in Amarillo related to Proposition A by analyzing billboard photos from social media and news coverage. They mapped each location using Google Maps Street View compared to images from Burkett Outdoor Advertising and Lamar.
At least 21 billboard ads supporting and opposing Proposition A appeared along Interstates 40 and 27. Messages such as "Keep Texas Roads Open: Say No To Travel Bans" were visible on these billboards costing at least $20,650 to $24,300 before election day.
The main committees supporting Proposition A were Project Destiny Amarillo and Amarillo Area Young Republicans. Project Destiny's only in-kind contribution labeled "billboards" cost $750 paid by Green Tree & Landscaping while Young Republicans reported $6,550 in expenses paid to Burkett Outdoor Advertising.
"The PAC could have spent more money in final days unreported,"
Project Destiny raised over $74,000 through Oct. 28 including nearly $10K of donations with major contributions from business owners Jim Schrader ($10K) & Jennifer Roberts ($9K). The group also had smaller donations boosting efforts like Don Tipps' donation ($1K).
"Local opponents buoyed by out-of-town groups."
The Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance opposed ordinance forming Amarillo Freedom PAC raising total funds worth around thirty-one thousand dollars half coming via three donors James Whitton Margaret O'Brien Reese Beddingfield donating five-thousand each respectively; both Whitton O'Brien hail longtime Panhandle families ties Hastings Entertainment company Beddingfield owns business locally ARFA members contributed additional three-thousand sixty-one seventy cents committee expenses showed nine-thousand eight-hundred twenty-one thirty-six cents July first October twenty-eighth period no billboard expense disclosure representatives neither Project Destiny nor responded requests comment Tribune Lindsay London hosting April twenty-nine meeting discussing strategy post-signature gathering session Annie Rice photo credit outside donations conservative outlets support ordinance boost Texas Scorecard publishing commentary Mark Lee Dickson director Right Life East movement owned Citizens News Guild annual filings show Tim Dunn Midland oilman megadonor board directors Ground Game tied progressive issues nonprofit allowed shield donor identities federal law Avow advocacy organization invested seventy-four thousand digital printing postage text campaigns opposing proposition Women's March sponsored billboards signs promotions Potter Randall County Medical Society Board formed PAC oppose last report September twenty-six October twenty-eight showing four-thousand four hundred sixty-eight seventy-four monetary kind donations expenditure non-reporting accusations commission rule violations members favor ordinance attorney sent letter saying failed register engaging activity response denied unethical acceptance contributions board member only spokesperson late filing Audrey Nielsen Michael Nolan Diara Town research data analysis provided Sunlight Research Center Disclosure Facebook Google financial supporters Texas Tribune nonprofit member-supported informing engaging Texans state politics policy learn more texastribune.org