In the News
More Soft Money Hard Law: A Few Words on “Hypocrites” and “Zealots”
By Bob BauerA lot of the yelling and screaming heard about McCutcheon has recently migrated into the debate about disclosure. Charles Krauthammer has complained that the zealots have ruined disclosure as a policy option by misusing donor information to launch attacks on them. And Brad Smith took to the webpages of the Center for Competitive Politics to refute the charge that on the question of mandatory disclosure, conservatives once open to transparency had reversed course, supposedly shifting with the winds now blowing against campaign finance regulation overall.At least on this question of “hypocrisy,” commentators like Smith have the better part of the argument. It is not hypocritical for skeptics about reform to insist that disclosure policy has its complexities and might not be embraced wholesale. Yes, there was once a time when, in the face of a robust regulatory regime, offers were seemingly made to trade disclosure as a positive good for a liberalization of a complex system of funding limits and prohibitions. But there has always been a line of argument that we need to take disclosure seriously and not as a measure of minimal consequence: that there is no such thing as regulation without bite, even disclosure regulation. It does matter that individuals’ political preferences, expressed in the donations they make, are forced into the public view.
Independent Groups
Crains New York: Unions nixed election-reform deal, Cuomo says
By Chris BraggSenate Republicans in Albany have long deemed publicly funded elections a waste of taxpayer dollars. But, according to Mr. Cuomo, the Senate GOP was ready to make a deal this year to allow them—only to have labor unions balk. The legislators settled for a watered-down version, setting up a mere pilot program for the state comptroller’s race. The outcome was decried by good-government groups.In exchange for public financing of elections, the governor said, the Senate GOP wanted deep-pocketed unions and major liberal spenders to agree not to engage in heavy outside spending, as allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision. The ruling allowed unlimited spending by individuals, corporations and unions. In labor-friendly New York, much of that spending has come from unions.“Senate Republicans say to me, in very heated discussions—they go many days, late into the night—Senate Republicans say, ‘How about this?’ ” Mr. Cuomo recalled. ” ‘You go get the unions and the big Democratic donors to agree not to do independent expenditure committees. And we’ll do public financing.'”
SCOTUS/Judiciary
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (Event): Dollars and Sense: How Undisclosed Money and Post-McCutcheon Campaign Finance Will Affect 2014 and Beyond
Disclosure
WSJ: Tom Steyer’s Glass House
By Kim StrasselThen there is Mr. Steyer’s pledge. When he announced the $100 million in February, he said the money would be used to pressure officials to enact climate legislation. Greens happily assumed this meant a repeat of the big money Mr. Steyer spent in the 2013 Massachusetts Senate primary race, bashing Democrat Stephen Lynch for his support of Keystone. Indeed, on Mr. Steyer’s initial target list for his $100 million was pro-Keystone Democrat Mary Landrieu.Mr. Steyer then spent some quality time with senior Democrats, who presumably explained that the establishment would not look kindly on a would-be governor who blew their control of the Senate. Ms. Landrieu came off the list, and Mr. Steyer has downgraded his criteria for playing in races to whether “something important” is at stake. Democratic operators are thrilled. But one can imagine that the absolutist environmental community—not exactly famed for its nuance or pragmatism—is wondering what exactly happened to all Mr. Steyer’s putative principles.
Free Beacon: It’s Been a Bad Month for Democratic Donors
By Andrew StilesThe left-wing eco-billionaire is under fire amid revelations that the hedge fund he founded was involved in an alleged Ponzi scheme to defraud German real estate investors of $67 million. Steyer has pledged to spend $100 million this election cycle to promote politicians who oppose construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Candidates, Politicians, Campaigns, and Parties
Washington Post: Rep. Michael Grimm, facing federal charges, surrenders to FBI
By Paul Kane and Adam GoldmanOn Friday, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed an indictment against Diana Durand, a close friend of Grimm’s, alleging that the Houston businesswoman ran a straw-donor scheme that brought in more than $10,000 to Grimm’s 2010 campaign. The charges included lying to investigators in 2012 when they asked about her alleged reimbursement of Grimm donors.While Grimm’s attorney has proclaimed the lawmaker’s innocence, the charges and the investigation have provided an opening for his Democratic opponent, former New York City councilman Domenic Recchia, who barnstormed the congressional district over the weekend.
Lobbying and Ethics
Roll Call: Steve Stockman Subject of Ethics Investigation, Steve Stockman Reports
By Matt FullerRep. Steve Stockman, who has faced a number of questions surrounding his financial disclosures and campaign finances is, according to the Houston Chronicle, the member at the heart of a new investigation from the House Ethics Committee.
State and Local
California –– Los Angeles Daily News: The ABC’s of ethics in the Golden State
By Doug McIntyreCalifornians are not a judgmental lot.Unless we’re judging lunatic legislators in Florida, Texas, and those other Red States. Then judge away.Too bad we were so busy celebrating our moral and intellectual superiority we managed to miss our own state government’s ethical collapse.
Maryland –– Baltimore Sun: New online system for city ethics forms requires in-person sign-up
By Yvonne WengerWant to see what gifts Baltimore’s elected officials and government workers have received? You can check out the details online, but you first have to make a stop at City Hall to sign up.The city’s Ethics Board says it is not allowed to make the process totally digital because of a requirement, based on a state law, that individuals show up once in person, show identification and fill out a contact form.The city is among the first local governments to provide online access to the records, which also include disclosure of certain loans, family income sources and business relationships. There is no fee to register.
