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.
It was a weekend of editorials on money in politics and 2016:
Washington Post: “It is disturbing when presidential candidates deliberately and openly skirt the law and rules. What does it say about their judgment and character? If they take shortcuts here, what kind of integrity will they bring to the White House on other matters?”
New York Times: Clinton “and both parties’ candidates should address the risks posed to the democratic process by the rise of super PACs — which, far from being independent of campaigns, are taking on a campaign’s central functions, in violation of federal election law.”
Los Angeles Times: “It’s not hypocritical to espouse new rules to govern election spending while taking advantage of existing laws. And it’s true that former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is also aggressively priming the super PAC pump. The problem is that using super PACs to chase campaign cash violates the spirit if not the letter of the law.”
Campaign Finance/Elections
FEC Commissioner Lee Goodman, who spent months whipping up opposition to comments Chair Ann Ravel didn’t actually make about Internet regulations, isn’t happy that she’s criticizing Republican commissioners and thinks that the agency is working just fine.
Knoxville News Sentinel: Presidential libraries should disclose donors
“U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. has been on a crusade for years to force presidential libraries to make public their lists of private donors. So far, he has come up short. But for the first time in a long time, there are signs the Knoxville Republican’s luck may be about to change.”
News Journal: Why is it corporate lobbyists are the only ones heard?
Former Sen. Ted Kaufman has this op-ed on lobbying in DC: “In the real world, when a force as powerful as the corporate lobby becomes virtually the only voice heard on legislation that will affect all of our lives, both our economic system and our democracy are at risk.”
Bloomberg: The Campaign Finance Gyrocopter Man Describes His New, Surreal Existence
Good story on Doug Hughes, gyrocopter guy: “Two weeks before the Washington, D.C. court hearing on his stunt—he was charged with a felony—Hughes is embracing his status as a spokesman for campaign reform.” And I missed this editorial cartoon last month on the story.
Bangor Daily News: Here’s how we can shine light on dark money trying to win your vote
A pair of Maine state senators, one Republican and one Democratic, have this op-ed: “Although we have different party affiliations, we agree that we need effective public disclosure so voters can make better-informed decisions at the ballot box and hold elected officials accountable. Here’s how we can shine light on dark money.”
The Hill: Senate Dems push for more disclosure on political ads
“Seven Democratic senators introduced legislation that would require the Federal Communications Commission to increase disclosures on political ads. The Sunshine in Sponsorship Identification Act in the Senate has a less hostile name than the House’s Keep Our Campaigns Honest (KOCH) Act, an apparent knock at GOP mega-donors Charles and David Koch.”
McClatchy: Court dismisses Congressman Rangel’s challenge to his House censure
“A top appellate court on Friday declined to second-guess the House of Representatives’ censure of long-time Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y.”
Congress/Admin/2016
Bob Woodward, during his commencement address at Loyola University this weekend: “There is a new governing crisis here and it is getting worse. It is about money in politics. It involves both political parties. I won’t name names. If you follow the news at all, you know. It is said that the media is sleeping, lost its investigative zeal and does not have the patience to dig. There is some truth to that. But that changes when there is a good story. And money in politics is a great story and important to democracy. It is important that the next president be able, unfettered and unbought, to find and move the country to the next stage of good.“
The Atlantic: How to Push Back Against Billionaire Donors
Peter Beinart: “For the time being, therefore, this shift from democracy to oligarchy must be fought not legally, but culturally and politically. The stigma that comes from donating millions of dollars to a presidential candidate—and from receiving it—must increase. The press can help make this happen.”
New York Times: Billionaire Lifts Marco Rubio, Politically and Personally
An interesting look at the relationship between Marco Rubio and the billionaire car dealer who wants him to be president. “Mr. Braman acknowledged seeking the occasional ‘small favor’ from Mr. Rubio’s Senate office.” He also said, “It’s a shame for any of this money to have to go into politics. It should be utilized for much better purposes. There’s too many needs out there for this money to flow.”
Vox: Jeb Bush used to worry about appearing too beholden to wealthy donors. Not anymore.
Yes, it was kind of hilarious to begin with that Jeb was putting a $1 million limit on donors to ensure people didn’t think he was beholden but now he’s getting rid of that altogether.
Washington Post: Democrats embrace the logic of ‘Citizens United’
Larry Lessig has this op-ed on Democrats, Clinton Cash and Citizens United.
MSNBC: The promise of super PACs outweigh the perils for Hillary Clinton
More on Clinton and super PACs with this quote from Every Voice’s David Donnelly: “The rules are the rules. Everyone needs to play under the same rules. We are mostly interested in a set of positions that candidates take that truly addresses money in politics, and a clear statement about how much of a priority it is.” (There was a Clinton/super PAC joke on SNL’s Weekend Update on Saturday.) LA Times.
This is kind of weird: “The campaign directed questions to Fiorina’s Super PAC, Carly for America.”
Mediaite: Bernie Sanders: My SCOTUS Nominees Must Pledge to Overturn Citizens United
Bernie Sanders on “Face the Nation”: “If elected president, I will have a litmus test in terms of my nominee to be a Supreme Court justice. That nominee will say that we are all going to overturn this disastrous Supreme Court decision on Citizens United, because that decision is undermining American democracy. I do not believe that billionaires should be able to buy politicians.” (On our candidates Tumblr.) He also said he won’t have a super PAC.
Politico: Waiting for Jeb to jump
On Jeb’s super long non-candidacy: “Given his fundraising focus, he’s already dogged by the notion, eagerly pushed by his enemies among the party’s tea party hard-liners, that he’s a bankroll in search of a soul.”
Meet the Press is doing a new series on 2016’s billionaire donors, with the first segment on Sheldon Adelson.
Wall Street Journal: Banks Prep Defense for Anti-Wall Street Campaigns
It’s already the “Wall Street is worried!” time in the election, with many executives meeting to discuss what candidates are saying on the trail and how “in the course of their regular communications and outreach work bank officials could set the record straight.” (Previously)
AP: If Clinton wins White House, an uncertain future awaits her family’s charitable foundation
“Hillary Rodham Clinton’s family foundation, already the subject of intense scrutiny in the early days of her White House campaign, faces an uncertain future if she is elected president.”
Reuters: Hillary Clinton woos technorati, draws comparison to Eleanor Roosevelt
“Clinton, the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, is gladhanding her way through the Bay Area’s establishment and the newer technology class that could serve as an important source of money, votes and credibility among the broader electorate.”
Washington Post: Clinton campaign’s dilemma: What to do with Bill?
Bill Clinton “does not plan to do any campaign activities for his wife in 2015, including fundraisers for her campaign or allied super PACs.”
OpenSecrets: Ben Carson Charms Small Donors
Small donors love Ben Carson.
Politico: Bill Shuster aided Virgin Islands — then asked for cash
Huh: “Policymakers frequently raise money from individuals and corporations who have vested interests before Congress. But Shuster’s initiative in taking up such a parochial issue — the relaxing of the rule affected only the U.S. Virgin Islands’ situation — and the specificity with which donors connected their contributions to his work make this case unusual.”
Kansas City Star: Jason Kander slams Roy Blunt as all-Washington and no-Missouri
“Missouri’s likely Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, Jason Kander, characterized incumbent Republican Roy Blunt Saturday night as a Washington insider who’s no longer in touch with his home state. The senator’s constituency these days is made up of fellow senators and lobbyists — not the people back home.”
Bloomberg: Trey Gowdy Just Wants PACs to Stop Raising Money Off His Benghazi Investigation
People love raising money off Benghazi even if Trey Gowdy would prefer them not to.
Roll Call: Caveat Emptor, in Political Giving Too
“We still live in a free country, and that means individuals and groups can pass themselves off as things they are not. It’s up to contributors to do due diligence on candidates and groups to understand where their contributions are going and whether that money will have the impact they’d like it to have.”
Washington Post: Members of Congress charge $2,500 to sit with them at a Taylor Swift concert
It’s a real Love Story between members of Congress and Taylor Swift concerts, with at least four fundraisers planned for her July show at Nats stadium.
The Intercept: Former CIA Director Porter Goss Registers to Lobby for Turkey
“Former Central Intelligence Director Porter Goss is taking an unusual swing through the revolving door: He recently registered to lobby for the government of Turkey, according to forms filed with the Justice Department.”
Other/States
Washington Post: Amid gridlock in DC, influence industry expands rapidly in the states
“A Washington Post review of lobbying spending in states shows professional advocates reported spending at least $2.2 billion on activity aimed at influencing state legislators in 28 states where data was available during the 2013-2014 biennium — with virtually every state seeing dramatic growth over the last decade.”
CNN: Koch money fuels personal politics in Kentucky
On the Kentucky governor’s race: “A divisive and expensive battle for the GOP nod is coming to a head this month as the powerful Koch brothers’ political network digs in its heels, putting money behind Heiner and leaving Comer staring down an avalanche of negative advertising. The jousting in Kentucky reflects the impact of unfettered money in politics and offers a preview of what the presidential season could look like nationwide next year.”
AP: Contributions to Pa. high-court hopefuls nearing $5 million mark
“Political contributions to the dozen candidates for three open seats on the state Supreme Court are approaching the $5 million mark, according to campaign finance reports filed Friday.”
This is a shortened version of Every Voice’s morning email; to read more go to everyvoice.org.
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