That is especially true since 1991, when public disclosure of soft-money contributions began.

About half of the $90 million raised by the Republican Party came in large soft-money contributions.

In 1996, rising soft-money contributions to the political parties sparked controversy.

They have made large soft-money contributions to political parties.

Those soft-money contributions have in fact usually been spent by the parties in support of candidates.

The urgent need is to pass legislation to ban soft-money contributions to the parties.

And let's outlaw soft-money contributions to all political parties, just as we have at the federal level.

It would also allow unlimited soft-money contributions to continue to state political parties.

Perhaps once soft-money contributions are banned, politicians will be able to see more clearly.

Such soft-money contributions are skyrocketing, up by 103 percent from our years ago.