Political action committees are formed to raise and spend money on political issues.

They often are created to advance a political agenda or further the interests of particular businesses or industries.

The PAC in this week's spotlight is that of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

The tribe, which has a casino on its reservation near Highland, notes on its Web site that it is one of the Inland Empire's largest employers. It employs more than 2,500 people.

The tribe took part in the development of a $43 million hotel in Washington, a restaurant in Pasadena, the San Manuel Bottled Water Group, a 12,000-square-foot building near Capitol Hill and owns other real-estate properties, including 91.5 acres on the former Norton Air Force Base.

Why it's newsworthy:

Some of the contributions made in 2008:

$145,000 to the California Democratic Party

$7,200 to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles

$7,000 to San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael A. Ramos

$2,500 to San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris

$500 to San Bernardino County Assessor Bill Postmus