A Southern California Congressman has a new vehicle to deal with political action committees and hopefully strike a lode of PAC money.

With a play on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back,
 Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., has registered a new leadership PAC, Inland Empire Strikes PAC. Takano represents an area east of Los Angeles, commonly called the “Inland Empire” and covering part of Riverside County.

In 2011-2012, Takano raised $1.5 million with almost half coming from PACS and other committees. This included other leadership PACs that gave him $92,500. The campaign committees of other members gave him 57,500. View his 2011-2012 financial profile.

Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., also registered a new leadership PAC, Making Americans Count PAC (MAC PAC). The PAC is based in Washington, D.C.  Cartwright raised $1.4 million in the 2011-2012 cycle, including $209,639 from PACs and other committees. Leadership PACs gave him $10,000. View Cartwright’s 2011-2012 financial profile.