Clips Round-up for 5/25/11
Fair Elections/Campaign Finance
John Edwards May Face Criminal Charges
Uh Oh. “Multiple reports say former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards will soon be indicted by the Justice Department on criminal charges for allegedly violating campaign finance laws in an effort to cover up his extramarital affair.”
Was the Court Conned in Citizens United
Trevor Potter, former chairman of the FEC, has this op-ed on the influx of secret donations and the lack of disclosure following Citizens United.
Can the DNC and Our President Break Their Establishment Ties
“Obama ran on changing the way Washington does business, yet he has never embraced public funding for campaigns or pushing for the Fair Elections Now Act or, more importantly, the need to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, another tainted decision by the right-wing activist "justices" on this Supreme Court that handed our government over wholesale to corporate special interests. You must run as the leader of the people's party and not the corporate party, Mr. President.”
The Supreme Court Justices Should Follow the Highest Ethical Standards
Rep. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has introduced a new bill that would subject U.S. Supreme Court justices to the same ethical standards as those in lower courts.
Congress
Sen. Kyl Won’t Return Campaign Cash to Fiesta Bowl
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) is refusing to give back tainted campaign contributions from the Fiesta Bowl.
- Apparently Sen. McCain refuses to as well: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/politics/article_120b3342-8646-11e0-bfb2-001cc4c002e0.html
At Gas Price Oversight Hearing, House Republicans Push Big Oil Agenda
Think Progress highlights our work on the donations Republicans have received from the oil and gas industry.
Hochul Victorious in New York Special Election
Democrat Kathy Hochul will be the new representative for NY-26.
“As the race tightened and both parties hoped—or worried—that the campaign was becoming a referendum on Medicare, outside groups began pouring money into the already high-spending contest that saturated the local airwaves. The conservative American Crossroads spent almost $700,000 to hit Davis first, then Hochul. The National Republican Congressional Committee spent more than $400,000 to boost Corwin, who had already put more than $2.7 million of her own money in her campaign coffers. Tea Party Express and FreedomWorks both endorsed and worked on behalf of Corwin, hoping to knock down Davis.”
As Army Eyes a New Combat Rifle, Companies Load with Lobbyists to Win the Work
Gun manufacturers are amping up their lobbying game to gain a new combat rifle contract.
Retail Fights for Swipe Fee Cap
“The (National Retail) federation has already spent more than $1 million and expects to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next few weeks airing radio ads in the states and hitting Washington with print and radio messages.
“We’re going to spend a lot of money, but we’re not going to spend nearly as much as the banks,” said Shay, the federation’s president. “You want to peak at tournament time if you want to win the championship. You don’t want to peak early. That’s why [the campaign is happening] now.”
2012
Obama Campaign Cultivates Clinton Donors
“President Obama’s campaign manager, Jim Messina, met privately on Monday night with donors close to his erstwhile rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, as the campaign sought to knit together and mobilize the Democratic fund-raising elite in advance of the 2012 election.”
Bad Timing, But Tim Pawlenty Still Speaking for Fees
Oops? GOP Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty is still available for paid speeches.
Other
Budget Committee Backs Benefit Cutbacks
Bad news in Wisconsin: “Also on party lines was a vote to end all public funding for state political races. The savings would go toward implementing a plan to require voters to show photo ID at the polls.”