one of our partners for a decade and proud -- one of our board members is landon rowland. i will give the news from recent findings and throw out an issue and question i hope the panelists may discuss. we are getting ready within a number of weeks to read -- release the latest in a periodic series of reports on spending and interest group money and judicial elections. it is save to save the headline continues cents a decade ago. we have seen this explosion in interest group money pouring into elections. more and more judges dialing for dollars frequently from the very parties who appear before them in court. the problem has gotten worse and worse and i am pleased to see ced updated its findings in this area. we have taken a special look at independent expenditures and noted if you look four years ago to the last relevant on presidential cycle because they are often different from non presidential cycles. we noted four years ago outside groups represented 18% of total spending in supreme court elections around the country. this past cycle the percentage jumped to 30%. we ar

ed kangas and landon rowland. i would like to salute the companies that are here with us today. i would like to salute what you're doing in your commitment to transparency and disclosure. [applause] i also want to point out that ced has been fortunate to have excellent leadership for each of your companies. i think pfizer would thank you, and merck would thank you. we have been a longtime friend. part of the reforms center. finally, the ceo of american electric power will be co- leading our work on energy policy, along with fred smith from a fedex. so thank you to each of you and your leadership. second point, this issue came up a couple times in the conversation. if members of congress feel that they have now to raise more money to protect themselves from outside groups at the same time that they say they do not like the system, why do they not fix it? they can do it immediately. their point, ced is back -- a third point, ced is back in the game. we look forward to continuing in deepening the relationship with each of the partners we have had for many years. and what are we goi

to thank our moderator, jeanne cummings, and also our panelists, and once again ed kangas and landon rowland. i want to close with four brief points. first, i'd like to salute the company that are here with us today. i like to salute which were doing and your commitment to transparency and disclosure. [applause] and also want to point out that ced is fortunate to have excellent leadership from each of your companies. i think pfizer with hank and fred, mark, and now your current ceo has been a long friend, a longtime friend, equally committed to ethics. research on the board of the ethics forum center a number of years ago. and, finally, mike morris, the ceo of american electric power is going to be co-leading our work on energy policy a long with fred smith from fedex. so thanks to each of you for what you're doing, your leadership. second point, this issue came up a couple times in conversation. i think tony raised a. if members of congress feel that they have now to raise more money to protect themselves from outside groups, at the same time they say they don't like a system, why don't the