Independent Groups
Roll Call: Stopping Scam PACs From Ripping Off Donors
Ann Ravel
Because of the way the requests are portrayed, it is assumed the money raised will go to help elect or defeat that candidate. In reality, the money raised largely gets funneled into the pockets of the political operatives who set up these organizations.
The FEC, the body I chair, should be on top of this — ferreting out bad actors and protecting donors — but it isn’t. The FEC’s inaction, though, isn’t because of the well-publicized deadlocks at the commission. Surprisingly, the law doesn’t give the FEC the tools or the authority needed to address scam PAC activity.
Washington Examiner: Republicans want IRS to revoke green group’s tax-exempt status
Zack Colman
The NRSC, formerly the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said the environmental group’s million-dollar ad campaign came out of its 501(c)(3) outfit rather than its 501(c)(4) advocacy arm, the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund. The NRSC said using the former structure violated federal laws that prevent charities from undertaking political activities, while allowing donors to deduct contributions in annual tax filings.
“The question is, why would the 501(c)(3) pay for the ad? The only conceivable explanation is that [Natural Resources Defense Council] consciously is enabling its donors to take tax deductions in exchange for political contributions in violation of federal law,” Matthew Raymer, general counsel for the NRSC, wrote last week in the 11-page complaint to the IRS.
NBC News: CHARTED: Campaign Fundraising vs. Outside Groups
Mark Murray and Carrie Dann
As Wednesday’s FEC filing deadline approaches, we compiled what we know about how much the 2016 campaigns have raked in — and how much the outside organizations supporting them have raised.
The outside groups (which can bring in unlimited amounts of money) are DRAMATICALLY outraising the actual campaigns (which are restricted to $2,700 per donor for the primaries and another $2,700 per donor for the general election).
PBS News Hour: How will super PAC money mold the race for 2016? (Video)
There used to be the thing in politics where you dropped out of the race after your money ran out, and your money would run out because you weren’t winning enough, you didn’t have enough momentum. Now there are super PACs very flush with cash that can keep candidates going long after maybe their expiration date.
IRS
Fox Business: IRS Ignores Deadline to Hand Over Lerner Emails
Gerri Willis
U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan last week ordered the agency to turn over 1,800 new emails from Lerner, who ran the tax exempt unit which decided which organizations could receive tax exempt status. The government watchdog group Judicial Watch has sought the emails in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Monday, a spokesperson told FOXBusiness.com that the group would not oppose the IRS producing something this Wednesday and every 2 weeks thereafter, assuming the Court agrees. At the time of publication there was no word from the IRS on this development or an amended order from the court.
John Doe
Watchdog.org: Left’s loud transparency defenders silent on secret John Doe
M.D. Kittle
Where were these self-righteous Democrats when the Government Accountability Board refused to make public documents explaining its expenditures on a political John Doe investigation into conservative groups and Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign? Where was the outrage when the GAB effectively told the Legislative Audit Bureau to go pee up a rope when the nonpartisan watchdog requested basic information concerning the probe?
And where was Barca and his left-leaning pals after each horrifying revelation of partisan prosecutors pushing extreme raids on the homes of Wisconsin citizens who have never been charged with any wrongdoing, including a 16-year-old boy who was home alone before dawn when police, brandishing guns and a warrant, pounded on his parents’ door and proceeded to root through the family’s possessions?
Contribution Limits
Brennan Center: How a Pro-Regulation Decision Is Good for Business
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
So this decision was a welcome result for those of us who want some prophylaxis protecting our democracy from quid pro quo corruption. But why should businesses also be pleased with this decision? The Court said the law was justified on two grounds (1) to prevent quid pro quo corruption and (2) to protect merit-based public administration. It is this second part that should be of interest to businesses that would like to contract with the government to sell their wares and services.
Had the plaintiffs in the Wagner case won, the restriction on federal contractors giving contributions to candidates and political parties would have ended. As the court put it, “the record offers every reason to believe that, if the dam barring contributions were broken, more money in exchange for contracts would flow through the same channels already on display.”
Candidates and Campaigns
Business Insider: This company thinks Scott Walker borrowed its logo and is milking it for all its worth
Colin Campbell
A contact-lens and eyeglass company is having a blast after realizing its logo shares similarities with that of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) presidential campaign.
Both Walker’s campaign and America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses feature a cartoonish, four-part American flag logo as the “E” in their names. The same flag icon is also their stand-alone logos when the text is removed.
Huffington Post: Voting for Bernie Sanders Will Defeat Citizens United and Restore America’s Faith in Elections
H.A. Goodman
Welcome to a Citizens United world.
Like the GOP, Democrats have chosen to seek as much funding as possible, even from corporation that Elizabeth Warren states “literally wrote” a recent government spending bill. Unlike Clinton or Bush, however, there’s only one candidate for president in both parties, and perhaps the only politician on the planet, who says “I don’t want money from the billionaires.” He’s also the same man who received the Congressional Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
His name is Senator Bernie Sanders and he’s filling arenas and surging in Iowa and New Hampshire without the help of a super PAC; money can’t buy enthusiasm. Vermont’s Senator recently drew crowds of 10,000 in Wisconsin, 2,500 people in Iowa, a “packed to capacity” venue in New Hampshire, and a “huge crowd” of 7,500 in Maine.
The States
Arizona Republic: Does Phoenix need campaign-finance reform?
Dustin Gardner
A 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case opened the floodgate for independent-expenditure groups to spend unlimited amounts of money campaigning for or against candidates. Many groups, including unions and corporations, can now spend without ever having to report their donors.
In the 2013 election, nearly every campaign involved accusations of illegal activity on the part of “dark money” groups, including complaints that the groups didn’t report expenses or wrongly coordinated with candidates. Several campaign consultants complained that lackluster enforcement allowed the groups to break rules with little consequence.
The Republic will ask candidates for Phoenix mayor and City Council to share their thoughts on an issue that could affect residents.
