Money trail
Encyclopedia
The phrase "money trail" is a catch phrase
, used to describe the source of funding for a politician
or interest group. Such funding sources are not always obvious and is often only discovered through investigation by journalist
s, government agencies, or opposition groups
. Often, the target of such investigations is a conflict of interest
in the form of a recursive, self-reinforcing money loop, benefiting candidates and contributors, to the detriment of taxpayers. Front groups, which are organizations established by other larger organizations to influence public opinion or bring about a desired objective that the parent organization may not be able to do under its own aegis for various reasons, can have their relationship with the parent group revealed by "following the money trail."
The phrase may also refer to the correlation between a legislator's votes on a particular issue, and campaign contributions he or she may have received from organizations which favor the way the legislator voted. Such money trails can be discovered by reports of contributions that candidates, lobbyists and political action committee
s, among others, may be required to file with regulators.
The phrase is sometimes used by the news media
, and can be found in contexts other than politics and special interests, such as general financial issues.
Catch phrase
A catchphrase is a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance. Such phrases often originate in popular culture and in the arts, and typically spread through a variety of mass media , as well as word of mouth...
, used to describe the source of funding for a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
or interest group. Such funding sources are not always obvious and is often only discovered through investigation by journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s, government agencies, or opposition groups
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
. Often, the target of such investigations is a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
in the form of a recursive, self-reinforcing money loop, benefiting candidates and contributors, to the detriment of taxpayers. Front groups, which are organizations established by other larger organizations to influence public opinion or bring about a desired objective that the parent organization may not be able to do under its own aegis for various reasons, can have their relationship with the parent group revealed by "following the money trail."
The phrase may also refer to the correlation between a legislator's votes on a particular issue, and campaign contributions he or she may have received from organizations which favor the way the legislator voted. Such money trails can be discovered by reports of contributions that candidates, lobbyists and political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
s, among others, may be required to file with regulators.
The phrase is sometimes used by the news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
, and can be found in contexts other than politics and special interests, such as general financial issues.