That example points to an important general  Total expenditure is determined by the value of the prize, whether we're talking about presidential campaigns or state lotteries.
( ( ( That ( example points ) ) ( to ( an ( important ( general ( Total expenditure ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( is ( ( ( determined ( by ( ( the value ) ( of ( the prize ) ) ) ) ) , ) ( whether ( we ( 're ( talking ( about ( presidential ( campaigns ( or ( state lotteries ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT That) (NN example) (NNS points)) (PP (TO to) (NP (DT an) (JJ important) (JJ general) (JJ Total) (NN expenditure)))) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN determined) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN value)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN prize))))) (, ,) (SBAR (IN whether) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP 're) (VP (VBG talking) (PP (IN about) (NP (JJ presidential) (NNS campaigns) (CC or) (NN state) (NNS lotteries))))))))) (. .)))
They stated that the monetary amount of the prize was determined regardless of how the prize was used.
( They ( ( stated ( that ( ( ( the ( monetary amount ) ) ( of ( the prize ) ) ) ( was ( determined ( regardless ( of ( how ( ( the prize ) ( was used ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBD stated) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ monetary) (NN amount)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN prize)))) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN determined) (ADVP (RB regardless) (PP (IN of) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB how)) (S (NP (DT the) (NN prize)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBN used)))))))))))) (. .)))