Linked donors may include executives, subsidiaries, PACs, and others. Donors may also be linked if two donor companies merge. Spouses are linked to each other and to any other donors to which they are affiliated. Siblings, parents, children, and related family members are not linked, unless the individuals are affiliated with the same organization or company. Using standard business information directories and news stories, donors are assigned a broad industry or interest category.
Some donors remain unidentified even after extensive research.
If a donor does not report this information it is assigned by Common Cause researchers, if available. Often contributions are given from a single company or individual but from different addresses. F. Donors who switch groups As individual people change company affiliations and businesses merge or become subsidiaries of other companies, Common Cause updates these donor relationships. All lobbying information is based on disclosure reports required by law and filed with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House.