seems to me these PACs are taking the place of the lobbyists that we didn’t want our politicians taking favors or trips or money from. There was a rule that a govt employee had to report any gift over $6 - so even if the PAC paid for the trip, it is still a ‘gift’ to the trip recipient. And large gifts are bribes no matter which way one looks at it.
You can’t give an FDA agent a cup of coffee & a doughnut.