As we continue our effort to keep you up-to-date with all the news on how money continues to corrupt American government and politics, BillMoyers.com is pleased to be publishing this daily digest of money and politics news compiled and edited by Adam Smith, communications director of the non-partisan campaign finance reform group, Every Voice.
In the rest of Fredreka Schouten’s interview with Charles Koch for USA Today, he says, “We are doing all of this to make more money? I mean, that is so ludicrous.”
Electing politicians who’ll help you pay less in taxes and will weaken regulations for your massive toxic energy holdings are just happy side effects to all that freedoming, I guess.
Campaign Finance/Elections
US News: The High Price of Pay to Play –> Former US Sen. Larry Pressler, a board member of Issue One, has this op-ed on a proposed executive order on disclosure of political spending by government contractors: “When businesses vie for our tax dollars, we the people deserve to know whether they spent money influencing our elections and, if so, where the money went. Without this basic information, we can’t make informed decisions at the ballot box and we can’t hold our elected leaders accountable.”
Weekly Standard: So, What About Money in Politics? –> Jay Cost, in the conservative Weekly Standard: “Nevertheless, it behooves the right to take seriously the left’s complaint about the corrupting influence of money in politics.”
OfBy.Us: Walter Jones on gyrocopters and the Government By the People Act –> Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) spoke on the House floor earlier this week about gyrocopter guy, money in politics, and his support for the Government By the People Act (HR 20).
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) released this video earlier this week on Earth Day, energy industry influence in politics, and HR 20.
The Hill: Head of congressional ethics panel jumps to law and lobby firm –> “Dickstein Shapiro has plucked the leader of a congressional watchdog for its lobby shop. Porter Goss, an ex-CIA director and former Republican congressman, stepped down from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), an independent board that reviews ethics complaints against lawmakers.”
WaPo: At least the Senate’s antiquated campaign filing creates jobs here … and abroad –> The Senate’s ridiculous policy of filing fundraising reports on paper means they are being digitized by overseas contractors.
WSJ: Campaign Finance Reform, An Enduring Election Promise –> To be fair, the current president hasn’t really tried that hard: “Vowing to fix the country’s campaign finance system is a perennial campaign trail promise, especially for Democrats. But finding ways to reduce the amount of money in politics has bedeviled every presidential administration since Bill Clinton’s.”
Congress/Admin/2016
NYT: Candidate Clinton and the Foundation –> Tough editorial on Clinton and foundation donations: “The only plausible answer is full and complete disclosure of all sources of money going to the foundation. And the foundation needs to reinstate the ban on donations from foreign governments for the rest of her campaign — the same prohibition that was in place when she was in the Obama administration.” WaPo: “Are the Clintons too cozy with the people who give them money?” The Clinton rebuttal.
POLITICO: Book blowback hits Clinton’s NYC donor kickoff –> “Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, had hoped to spend Thursday morning rallying fundraisers in a midtown office building in Manhattan — but he also found himself fielding concerns about a spate of unsettling investigations into the Clinton family’s personal fundraising.”
The Hill: Romney: Donation to Clinton Foundation ‘looks like bribery’ –> Mitt Romney on Clinton Foundation donations: “You know, I’ve got to tell you, I was stunned by it. I mean, it looks like bribery.”
Yesterday, on a call with the Koch-backed group AFP, Marco Rubio expressed concern over Clinton’s campaign donors currying favor with her if elected. I didn’t see anything though, about whether his billionaire would raise similar concerns.
Boston Globe: Baggage of wealth burdens presidential candidates –> It’s not just the wealth of their big donors: “Wealth defines the lives and backgrounds of most of the presidential hopefuls, potentially clouding their ability to project empathy for the plights of those struggling with rent payments, college loans, or child care.”
SF Chronicle: GOP presidential hopefuls line up to kiss the ring in Vegas –> As GOPers criticize Clinton on foundation stories, they head to Vegas today for Sheldon Adelson: “Looks like the smoke-filled room has returned to national politics. At least at a party starting Friday in Las Vegas hosted by a billionaire casino mogul that is attracting a parade of name-brand GOP politicians.” With some analysis from MapLight on his political giving in previous elections. CAP Action Fund report on the Adelson Primary.
Quartz: Two of the Republican Party’s biggest donors are getting creamed by China’s corruption crackdown –> China’s corruption crackdown on casinos is bad news for the profits of Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn.
WaPo: The GOP presidential primary: A brawl of billionaires? –> Paul Waldman: “There are few spectacles more absurd or horrifying (depending on your perspective) than a group of political leaders who want to be president of the United States trooping to the lair of a billionaire to genuflect before him in hopes of winning his favor — and, of course, his money.” Maddow.
National Journal: Why Did Ted Cruz Miss the Loretta Lynch Vote? –> Last week, Ted Cruz gave an “impassioned” speech opposing Loretta Lynch’s nomination for Attorney General, but he couldn’t be bothered to vote against her yesterday because he was raising money. His staff’s defense is pretty great.
NYT: Ted Cruz Is Guest of Two Gay Businessmen –> Speaking of Cruz, he was in NYC earlier this week for a round of fundraisers and meet and greets with rich people and he was much nicer about issues they care about than when on the campaign trail.
POLITICO: Bill Shuster muscled through transportation bill pushed by lobbyist girlfriend –> “The legislation wasn’t only a priority for Shuster: It was a top issue for Airlines for America, and for Shuster’s girlfriend, Shelley Rubino, the organization’s vice president and a top airline lobbyist.” Sunlight’s Bill Allison on Shuster and lobbying disclosure.
POLITICO: In fundraising, Jeb is on defense –> Jeb Bush, not yet a declared candidate for president, is inviting top bundlers to Florida this weekend to talk about the non-campaign, especially with news that his opponents have lined up their own big money backers.
NBC News: The Kochs and Scott Walker: An Unknown Future But A Storied Past –> The Kochs have been walking back David’s comment that Scott Walker’s their guy, but “Walker has, however, benefited from the Koch brothers support in the past.”
PolitickerNJ: Jeb Bush for Prez NJ fundraiser being organized for June, GOP source says –> “A June fundraiser is being organized by several prominent New Jersey Republicans to support the potential 2016 presidential candidacy of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a Republican source has told PolitickerNJ.”
POLITICO: Unions defy AFL-CIO PAC freeze –> “The AFL-CIO’s moratorium on federal PAC contributions is crumbling only a few weeks after it was announced.”
Roll Call: Courting the Cucumber-Infused Crowd: Democrats Woo Millennials –> LOL: “On a Thursday evening earlier this month, a group of Democratic lawmakers entrusted with a big chunk of the party’s future mingled with well-dressed young professionals in an industrial-chic space in Manhattan, drinking glasses of wine and Mason jars of water infused with strawberries or cucumbers.”
Other/States
TWC News: Senate Republicans Say They’re Standing Behind Majority Leader Dean Skelos –> “For now, Senate Republicans are standing by Skelos, noting he hasn’t been arrested and the exact details of the investigation have not been confirmed.”
NYDN: Sheldon Silver hit with new charges over investments tied to alleged kickback schemes –> “Federal prosecutors brought new charges Thursday against disgraced former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver that detailed the lengths the pol allegedly used to yield big returns on his $4 million in corrupt cash.”
AP: Gov. Raimondo signs four bills aimed at strengthening campaign finance reporting laws –> “Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed four bills aimed at strengthening Rhode Island’s campaign finance reporting laws.”
Philly Inquirer: Council moves to illuminate Super PAC money –> That headline isn’t really accurate: “Independent groups that make big ad buys during an election season would have to disclose their financial backers more often if legislation introduced to City Council Thursday is approved.”
To read more go to everyvoice.org.
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