Special PACs Spent Money at Resorts, Book Says
By JEREMY W. PETERS, NYT
WASHINGTON — A new book from a conservative advocate of tighter campaign finance regulations seeks to draw attention to a number of questionable but legal fund-raising activities — some potentially damaging, others certainly embarrassing — that could prove uncomfortable for some on Capitol Hill.
The author is Peter Schweizer, a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, whose last book focused on how members of both parties enriched themselves by trading stock based on information they obtained by virtue of their positions in Congress. The book — and the news coverage of it — helped lead to the Stock Act, which banned insider trading for representatives and senators but stopped far short of the systemic changes advocates like Mr. Schweizer said were necessary.
Mr. Schweizer hopes his new book, titled “Extortion,” will help push Congress to address loopholes in the campaign finance system, including banning “Leadership PACs,” which allow politicians to spend and solicit money without many of the restrictions they face when using their dedicated campaign committees.
These groups, Mr. Schweizer argues, have essentially become slush funds that enable lavish lifestyles while they exist ostensibly to help members of Congress finance their own campaigns and help political allies.
(More here.)
WASHINGTON — A new book from a conservative advocate of tighter campaign finance regulations seeks to draw attention to a number of questionable but legal fund-raising activities — some potentially damaging, others certainly embarrassing — that could prove uncomfortable for some on Capitol Hill.
The author is Peter Schweizer, a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, whose last book focused on how members of both parties enriched themselves by trading stock based on information they obtained by virtue of their positions in Congress. The book — and the news coverage of it — helped lead to the Stock Act, which banned insider trading for representatives and senators but stopped far short of the systemic changes advocates like Mr. Schweizer said were necessary.
Mr. Schweizer hopes his new book, titled “Extortion,” will help push Congress to address loopholes in the campaign finance system, including banning “Leadership PACs,” which allow politicians to spend and solicit money without many of the restrictions they face when using their dedicated campaign committees.
These groups, Mr. Schweizer argues, have essentially become slush funds that enable lavish lifestyles while they exist ostensibly to help members of Congress finance their own campaigns and help political allies.
(More here.)
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1 Comments:
This is a worthy subject ... while the media will report how much candidates report in their quarterly fundraising, they never seem to associate the Leadership PACs which have the advantage to a "leader" dispensing monies to other candidates helping to bolster their tallies.
In Minnesota, it might be easier to report who does not have a Leadership PAC than who does ... but for fun, guess who is : Renewing the American Dream PAC;
Freedom and Security PAC;
ICE PAC;
Many Individual Conservatives Helping Elect Leaders Everywhere PAC;
Valley PAC;
and just to make it easy, here's one that no one should miss :
Betty PAC.
And how these events "work" is not necessarily a "hot dog fundraiser" but as this post on the MN Political Roundtable recounts the the Valley PAC Osceloa Turkey Hunt held March 24th, 2011 – March 27th, 2011 at the Blue Head Ranch in Lake Placid Florida with a suggest contribution of $5,000 per Hunter with a maximum of thirteen hunters.
It's through these Leadership PACs that Koch Brothers will give $10,000 and not get the visibility that be reported in a normal campaign contribution.
BTW, the answer to the questions above (in order) is Walz, Kline, Paulsen, the clever MICHELE Bachman for Many Individual Conservatives Helping Elect Leaders Everywhere, and Valley is Collin Peterson.
Minnesota senators also have Leadership PACs ... for example, check out Al Franken's Midwest Value blog which features a story quoting Rick Nolan ‘money is toxic in politics’ ... ah, the irony ... a PAC running a story about toxic money in politics.
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