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.
Hillary Clinton will solicit contributions for an affiliated super PAC, The New York Times reports: “Her decision is another escalation in what is expected to be the most expensive presidential race in history, and it has the potential to transform the balance of power in presidential campaigning, where Republican outside groups have tended to outspend their Democratic counterparts.”
Washington Post: “Clinton’s first face-to-face wooing of the super PAC’s big-money contributors caps her embrace of Priorities USA, which initially struggled to bring in large sums as she took a hands-off approach to the enterprise.” USA Today,MSNBC.
The Huffington Post’s Paul Blumenthal profiles Zephyr Teachout: “Teachout wants to empower ordinary citizens by breaking up both the modern monopolies in industry and the big-money donor trusts that fund both political parties.”
Campaign Finance/Elections
Washington Post: When it comes to money, Sen. Pot, meet Judge Kettle
Great editorial on last week’s Williams-Yulee decision: “Judges and politicians have different functions, but integrity is integrity for everyone.”
Breitbart: Foreign money in US campaigns, even from porn companies?
John Pudner, the man who helped defeat Eric Cantor, and founder of Take Back Our Republic has this piece: “As conservatives, we cannot continue to dismiss any attempt to change or enforce campaign finance laws as a ‘liberal’ cause. There are in fact liberal campaign finance solutions we should not support. We must be willing to admit there is a problem and working to ENCOURAGE more small contributions from citizens through approaches such as a tax credit, while working to STOP the influence of foreign dollars should be priorities for conservatives.”
National Catholic Review: The Catholic Case for Campaign Finance Reform
Daniel Dobrygowski writes, “Catholics, however, have an explicit reason to support liberal, inclusive democracy: Only through democracy can the values of human dignity be fully expressed.”
Detroit News: How money is ruining politics
Former Congressman Lee Hamilton has this op-ed on how “the tidal wave of money washing over our elections, with no end in sight, is causing Americans to lose faith in the system.” He offers solutions such as an amendment, more disclosure, and public funds, “amplifying the contributions of ordinary Americans.”
Gotham Gazette: Amid Further Ethics Scandal, What Can Cuomo Do Now?
“Karen Scharff, executive director of Citizen Action NY, said she feels Cuomo’s attempts at ethics reform haven’t paid off because he is so concerned about immediate political wins rather than the long-term good. Scharff said she’d like to see Cuomo take to the bully pulpit on public financing of elections even knowing that he won’t win this year, but ready to take a loss and do it to build political momentum.”
USA Today: Name game: Regulators demand PACs drop candidates from titles
“Political committees with names like Arriba con Hillary and Dick Morris’ Just Say No to Hillary PAC are getting letters from federal regulators this spring, demanding that they change their names now that Hillary Clinton and others officially have joined the presidential campaign.”
Congress/Admin/2016
Washington Post: Inside the Jeb Bush long game: A bet on big money and peaking late
Non-candidate Jeb Bush, who has held over 60 fundraisers this year, “intends to hold back from officially declaring his bid for at least another month.” (And some other deets from behind the scenes). Today in Chicago, his son and wife are hosting a fundraiser with tickets ranging from $2,500 to $250,000.
Mother Jones: Hillary Clinton Isn’t Ready to Disclose Who’s Funding Her Campaign
The Clinton campaign doesn’t have an answer on whether it will disclose its bundlers. With so much money this cycle–and a lot of it expected to be given secretly–it seems like a no-brainer for Clinton and all presidential candidates to disclose such information.
Politico: Clinton Foundation backer lashes out at ‘political assassination process’
“A Clinton Foundation supporter on Wednesday lashed out at media coverage of the organization and the Clintons — calling it ‘a political assassination process’ — and urged the foundation to more forcefully defend itself.”
AP: Sanders hires Obama veterans to lead 2016 digital operations
Impressive: “Sanders’ team says he is focused on online fundraising through small donors and brought in $3 million in his first four days as a candidate. The campaign says it has received 75,000 contributions, with an average donation of $43.”
WSJ: Rick Perry Faces Competition in Chase for Texas Dollars to Fund a Presidential Bid
“During his record 14 years as Texas governor, Rick Perry grew accustomed to amassing imposing election war chests. But as he considers a second run for president, he is running into stiff competition from rivals pursuing the deep pool of Republican donors in his home state,” with one $100,000 Perry donor saying “Rick is not electable until he gets rid of the indictment.”
National Journal: Rand Paul Apparently Paid $100,000 for RandPaul.com
This is crazy: “Days before Paul launched his bid for president, his campaign shelled out more than $100,000 to a domain-buying firm to purchase a ‘domain name.’ Soon after, RandPaul.com, which had previously been a pro-Paul site run by his fans, emerged as the official portal for the campaign.”
ArkansasOnline: Huckabee in sprint to fill ’16 war chest
“A day after announcing his 2016 presidential bid, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Wednesday announced 17 fundraisers across the country in the next month, including stops in five Arkansas cities.”
CRP: Huckabee Hopes, But Many Fundraising Doors are Closed
Russ Choma takes a look at the donors to Huckabee’s previous campaigns.
Politico: Scott Walker’s rabbi
Scott Walker is heading to Israel and his trip is being arranged by billionaire political donor Larry Mizel.
Every Voice: Portman’s corporate donors press for trade agreement
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman faces a dilemma over the TPP deal: Ohioans stung by previous trade agreements or the corporations that count among his top donors.
E&E: Oil and gas industry rushes to support Vitter gubernatorial bid
“Louisiana Sen. David Vitter (R) may boast the biggest war chest among those candidates vying to succeed term-limited Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) this fall, but he’s not the only contender to claim healthy support from the oil and gas industry.”
Free Beacon: Steyer Group Hit With FEC Complaint
“An ethics watchdog group filed a legal complaint against billionaire Democratic donor Tom Steyer’s Super PAC last week alleging that it may be illegally obtaining information on voters in the crucial swing state of Iowa.”
Sun-Times: Aaron Schock is looking for a job
“While a grand jury investigating former Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., reconvened in Springfield on Wednesday, I’m told he was in Chicago — and looking for a job. Perhaps sales. Or banking. Or something in international trade.”
NYT: Jim Wright, House Speaker Who Resigned Amid Ethics Charges, Dies at 92
“Jim Wright, a driven Texas Democrat who rose to the pinnacle of congressional power before ethics charges forced his resignation as speaker of the House in 1989, died on Wednesday in Fort Worth. He was 92.”
Politico: Congress loves its pricey steak dinners
Members of Congress love to spend big bucks on steak dinners.
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