American Bridge 21st Century received 53 percent of its donations from women in the first quarter of 2012, the Center for Responsive Politics reported April 16. The super PAC received $865,000 from eight women; $759,000 from 13 men. 

 

Yet according to its own filing with the Federal Election Commission, American Bridge employs significantly more men than women. The committee paid salaries to 44 men but only 15 women in the first quarter of 2012.

 

That gender gap is taking a turn in the spotlight April 17 on Equal Pay Day. 

 

Overall, only about 14 percent of super PAC money has come from women.

 

Super PACs have spent almost $90 million on independent expenditures in the 2012 election cycle, as of April 17, 2012, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

 

Super PACs can spend unlimited sums of money on campaign ads and to advocate for specific candidates so long as they do not coordinate with candidates or donate to a candidate’s campaign. They were made legal by the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which declared that organizations like corporations and unions had the same free speech rights as individual citizens.