The latest federal campaign finance reports show that the National Football League Arizona Cardinals gave Gov. Jan Brewer’s super PAC $5,000 in the second quarter of 2012.
Sports teams have made political contributions in the past.
A search by AZPM of the Federal Election Commission database shows that the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team gave a combined $22,000 to the Republican and Democratic National Committees in 2000, and the Phoenix Suns basketball team gave $140,000 to the GOP between 1998 and 2000.
When those donations were made, Jerry Colangelo was involved in the management of both organizations.
Colangelo, who still owns the Suns, gave $5,000 to Brewer's committee, known as Jan PAC, in the second quarter, the FEC report shows.
Brewer appointed Colangelo to the newly formed Arizona Commerce Authority nearly two years ago.
Other big donors to Jan PAC in the last quarter include Tucson developer Don Diamond, who gave $10,000; Rural Metro Fire, $25,000; the Gila River Indian Tribe, $3,500; McDonald’s restaurant franchise owners, $5,000.
Jan PAC is classified as a super PAC, which means there are no limits on contributions.
The Jan PAC website says the committee is dedicated to securing the border, fighting the health care law, creating jobs and reducing the size of government.
The largest expenses from Jan PAC in the last quarter are for fund-raising and purchases of books from Amazon. For each donation of $100 or more, Jan PAC will send the donor a signed copy of Brewer’s book, "Scorpions for Breakfast."
The committee reported spending no money either supporting or opposing a candidate in the second quarter.
According to the FEC, Jan PAC ended the quarter with $212,000 in the bank after raising $204,886. The majority of that money came from individual contributions.
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