More than $1 billion worth of civic pride

Fed Ex, the Edison Electric Institute, Novartis, and Pepsico are among the 39 new donors contributing to the Democratic and Republican convention "host committees," according to an updated analysis by the Campaign Finance Institute.

Together, the 146 donors to the conventions have spent some $1.1 billion to lobby the federal government since 2005--belying the claim that these donors are giving to the host committees out of some sense of civic pride.

A loophole in federal election law allows corporations and organizatios to give unlimited amounts of cash and in-kind donations to the convention "host committees," stating that they are "motivated by a desire to promote the convention city and not by political considerations."

See a list of the newly disclosed donors here.

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