How the Power of PACs Is Multiplied

Re “New Group Decries Influence of PACs” (Sept. 18): Lisa Bierer, a spokeswoman for Sen. John Seymour’s reelection campaign said: “The legal maximum a PAC can give any candidate is $5,000, which is not enough to influence his or her votes.”

It’s true the legal maximum is $5,000 per candidate. But PACs are allowed to give twice, in the primary and in the general election. Total: $10,000 per candidate per election cycle. There (can be) more than one PAC from a given industry contributing to the same candidate, which may add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I call attention to “Seymour Reaps Cash Crop from Farmers” (Aug. 9), the Times analysis of Federal Election Commission records of PAC contributions to Seymour’s campaign through June 30. Agriculture PACs top the list (at) $226,997.

Bierer states, “I don’t think there is any senator or congressman who would sell out his constituents for $5,000.” She may be right. However I suggest she read “Who Robbed America? A Citizen’s Guide to the S&L; Scandal” by Michael Waldman.

GEORGE DE METT, Fullerton. George De Mett is a member of Project Shame, a nonpartisan Orange County group seeking to abolish political action committees.