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 publish 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.
Huge news this morning: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid will not run for re-election. He tells the Times, “I think it is unfair for me to be soaking up all the money to be re-elected with what we are doing in Maryland, in Pennsylvania, in Missouri, in Florida. These are big, expensive states.” He offers a similar comment in his (really well-done) announcement video.
The Republican-controlled New Hampshire Senate passed a resolution yesterday calling for a constitutional amendment to address Citizens United v. FEC. People for the American Way statement.
The Montana House, another Republican-controlled body, passed on second reading a bipartisan bill to require disclosure of dark money spending. There’s one more vote in the House to go.
Campaign Finance/Elections
Brennan Center: Vermont Should Seize Election Day Registration Momentum –> “The bill would allow Vermonters to register or update their registration at their poll site on Election Day, so that the ballots of all eligible voters will count.”
NH Register: Connecticut Republicans Oppose Changes to Clean Elections System –> In Connecticut: “Republican lawmakers said a Democratic proposal to change campaign finance laws breaks a promise they made to the state 10 years ago when they established the clean election system.” More: “Republicans: More campaign finance limits needed.”
Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), facing a tough re-election in 2016, broke with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and voted in favor of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-RI) disclosure amendment.
Congress/Admin/2016
Interesting quote from the RNC’s new chief of staff –> “If you can get people to give money, that’s a much bigger get than getting people to vote for you.”
Reuters: Upset by Warren, US Banks Debate Halting Some Campaign Donations –> This seems like an easy-made DSCC or Elizabeth Warren fundraising email: “Big Wall Street banks are so upset with Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren’s call for them to be broken up that some have discussed withholding campaign donations to Senate Democrats in symbolic protest, sources familiar with the discussions said.”
Washington Examiner: The Oddest Thing is Being Born: An Anti-Corporate Welfare Lobby –> Interesting piece from Tim Carney: “Corporate welfare persists in Washington because the tiny fraction of companies that pocket the billions care a lot more about the subsidies than do the masses who pay for them. Nowadays, though, an anti-corporate welfare lobby is growing.”
NYT: Bush Considers Data Selling Plan –> Remember how he’s not a candidate: “Aides to Jeb Bush are considering an ambitious data-selling system that would exist for his eventual presidential campaign and outside groups supporting it, three people briefed on the plan confirmed.”
Bloomberg: Papa Bush Tells Donors that Jeb is a ‘Tested and Gracious Leader’ –> “Ahead of a fundraiser he’s attending Thursday evening in Houston, former President George H.W. Bush has penned a letter to potential donors asking them to give ‘even $25’ to a super-PAC supporting his son, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.”
POLITICO: Hillary’s Launch Plan: Come Down to Earth –> And speaking of noncandidates, Hillary Clinton’s launch plan is coming together. “‘People are going to expect her to be a flawless candidate,’ said a Clinton donor. ‘Nobody’s a flawless candidate.'”
Yahoo: From the Waldorf to the Hampton Inn: Inside the Elaborate, Often Unglamorous World of Presidential Hotel Stays –> Funny nugget here: “Obama is unlikely to book himself into a property owned by GOP super-donor Sheldon Adelson.”
NJ.com: Lawmakers in DC Clash Over Bill That Would Ban NJ Online Gambling –> Speaking of Sheldon Adelson, Jonathan Salant reports on a recent House hearing on the online gambling bill Adelson’s lobbyist basically wrote. His pre-hearing story (that I missed).
Sunlight: McKeon’s Lobbying Firm Inks Campaign Contributor as Client –> Buck McKeon doing what everyone expected: “A lobbying disclosure form made public on Thursday shows that the former Armed Services Committee chair’s nascent lobby shop inked a new client in February. The firm will represent Aerojet Rocketdyne, a major defense contractor and campaign contributor to McKeon.”
NYT: Payday Loan Rules Proposed by Consumer Protection Agency –> Watch the lobby battle on this: “The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency created at President Obama’s urging in the aftermath of the financial crisis, took its most aggressive step yet on behalf of consumers on Thursday, proposing regulations to rein in short-term payday loans that often have interest rates of 400 percent or more.” Center for Responsive Politics’ payday lender page.
WaPo: Ted Cruz Raised More Than $1 Million for His Presidential Bid in First Day, Says His Campaign –> “Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign had a goal after it officially launched Monday: raise $1 million in a week. Turns out it only took a few hours.”
Sunlight: Unlike Potential Opponents, Ted Cruz Starts Playing by the Presidential Rules –> Bill Allison on Ted Cruz: “But let’s take a moment nevertheless to salute him, the first major presidential candidate from either party to start playing by the presidential rules.”
In the Texas Tribune –> “Citing Baldness, Gohmert Scraps Presidential Campaign”
POLITICO: Hillary’s Brother Raised Chinese Money for McAuliffe’s Green Car Venture –> “With his sister serving as Secretary of State, Tony Rodham, the brother of likely Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton, became a kind of traveling salesman in China for a politically connected green car company that was building a factory in a distressed corner of Mississippi.”
Roll Call: Lobbyists-Turned-Staffers Disclose Salaries, Clients –> Good read from Kate Ackley: “Lobbyists who left K Street in recent months to take jobs on Capitol Hill left behind big salaries and numerous clients that have a stake in the debates their new bosses are engaged in.”
Sun-Times: Rep. Tammy Duckworth Raising Money for Senate Bid –> Government By the People Act cosponsor Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) looks ready to announce a Senate bid.
USA Today: PG and Ted’s First Battle: Money –> On Ohio Senate: “The early fundraising figures will be an important first test of strength for the two Democrats – offering a glimpse of how competitive the Strickland vs. Sittenfeld showdown will be and how Ohio’s deep-pocketed Democratic donors are lining up in the battle.”
Daily Beast: Pay Someone to Run Against Your Representative –> “Tired of seeing that joker running unopposed yet again? A new online platform from Crowdpac is fundraising for viable candidates to run against those who faced no challengers in 2014.”
Bloomberg: GOP Fields More Million-Dollar Arms –> Jeanne Cummings: “In the wake of court rulings deregulating campaign finance, political fundraising has shifted decisively toward the super rich. The new playing field is putting Democrats at a disadvantage heading into 2016.”
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) in his farewell speech to the House yesterday –> “I also know that every person faces adversity in life. Abraham Lincoln held this seat in Congress for one term. But few faced as many defeats in his personal, business, and public life as he did.” (It turns out Lincoln had questions raised about mileage as well!!!)
NYT: Illinois: Jesse Jackson Jr. Leaves Prison –> “Former Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. left an Alabama federal prison early Thursday bound for a halfway house, two years after pleading guilty to spending $750,000 in campaign money on personal items.”
Other/States
NYDN: State Lawmakers Must Give Back Lou Gehrig Bobblehead Dolls as They Are Deemed a Gift Violation –> “In the latest sign of Albany ethics madness, lawmakers on Thursday were forced to turn over Lou Gehrig bobblehead dolls given to them by the ALS Association this week because they’re deemed a violation of the Legislature’s gift ban.”
WaPo: Here’s How Virginia’s Governor Defends His Homeland Security Lobbying: Just ‘Raising Heck’ –> “Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Thursday defended his aggressive actions while pushing for visa approvals on behalf of his electric-car company before he entered office, saying he was merely ‘raising heck’ over delays in processing.”
AP: Snyder Uses Pardon for Connected Lawyer –> “Gov. Rick Snyder used his pardon powers to erase the drunken driving conviction of a politically connected lawyer who was appointed to a state economic board in 2011.” Connected to 5 Hour Energy, whose influence the Center for Public Integrity reported on this week.
To read more go to everyvoice.org.
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