**GAO-10-685R**                      Published: Sep 21, 2010. Publicly Released: Sep 21, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

This letter formally transmits the briefing in response to congressional direction in a Senate Appropriations Committee Report (S. Rep. No. 110-129) to report on the 10-year trend in House and Senate campaign costs and the percentage of those costs incurred due to rising broadcast advertising rates. Specifically, we are reporting on the extent to which data on House and Senate campaign operating expenditures, especially media-related expenditures, are available and what the data show about the range of estimates of media-related expenditures as a proportion of itemized operating expenditures. On the basis of the results of our review, we are not making any recommendations for congressional consideration or agency action.

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## Office of Public Affairs

Sarah Kaczmarek
kaczmareks@gao.gov

(202) 512-4800

## Topics

Budget and Spending

AccountabilityAdvertising costsData collectionElection campaign financingFinancial disclosureInformation disclosurePolitical advertisingPolitical candidatesPolitical contributionsReporting requirementsSpending committeesTelevision advertisingCost growthFinancial reportingOperating expenses