A Third Super PAC to Bring Funds to Berman's Re-election Campaign

A third super PAC (political action committee), the Committee to Elect an Effective Valley Congressman, has been formed to help Rep. Howard Berman's re-election campaign, according to Politico.

In November, the Los Angeles Times reported on the emergence of another super PAC, the Valley-Israel Alliance, which was also formed to raise funds for Berman. The other Berman Super PAC is called Rebuilding America, according to Politico.

The treasurer for the Committee to Elect an Effective Valley Congressman "declined to reveal who's behind the super PAC" to Politico. Donor details, though, must be reported to the Federal Election Committee.

The creation of Super PACs is one of the results of the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which held that corporations should be able to exercise their right to free speech with regard to politicians and political organizations (see the PDF, above). This includes the relaxation of corporate donation limits on political campaigns.

In the decision, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote: "This Court now concludes that independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption."

Berman will be running against fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman in the upcoming elections due to.