In viewing and comparing campaign finance reports one has to know if they are comparing apples to apples or oranges. Yet there is no way of knowing without examining raw data in the underlying files.

Here is one example of the problem.

There appears to be very little consistency even within the same candidate's reports, and from candidate to candidate what level of contributions are included in each report.

FEC reporting requirements are

1. Candidates are required to itemized only those contributions of $200 and above

2. PAC's are required to itemized only those contributions of $150 and above

3. Contributions reported as below $150 often amount to a significant part of the total.

While PACs and candidates may meet the above minimum reporting requirements there appears to be no guidelines followed regarding the including the lesser contributions. WE often find a report includes every contribution no matter what the size in some reports, or they may pick an arbitrary value, such as $25. Making information shown in reports confusing and meaningless.

The above coupled with "so called human entry errors" in critical places can give a picture totally different from the truth.

It appears some candidates use these weaknesses and other flaws to misrepresent and hide the real truth behind their contributions.