In the News
Republicans Abroad Radio: CPAC
CCP Chairman Brad Smith discusses campaign finance at CPAC.
CCP
Legal Director Allen Dickerson discusses James v. FEC
By Joe TrotterWe are still waiting to hear from the Supreme Court on what they plan to do with the case. Stay tuned for more information.
Independent Groups
Politico: Enviros threaten Stephen Lynch on Keystone pipeline
By Maggie HabermanA group of climate-minded activists and a philanthropist have sent a letter to Massachusetts Senate hopeful Stephen Lynch, warning the Democratic congressman that they’ll form a super PAC to target him unless he opposes the Keystone pipeline.The move takes place amid an anti-super PAC pledge signed by both Lynch and the favorite in the Democratic primary, Rep. Ed Markey, to discourage outside groups from airing ads and sending out direct mail.
Corporate Governance
Wall Street Journal: N.Y. Comptroller: PepsiCo Agrees to Disclose Lobbying, Political Donations
By Melodie Warner“PepsiCo has taken an important step in giving shareholders a clear view of the way it uses corporate dollars in the political arena,” Mr. DiNapoli said. “Shareholder value is enhanced and reputational risks are reduced when companies disclose how corporate money is being spent in politics. Companies should follow PepsiCo’s lead by embracing transparency.”
Reuters: Starbucks shareholders to vote on political contribution ban
Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz jumped into the political arena two years ago, organizing a hundred of his fellow CEOs in a pledge to forswear campaign contributions till [sic] Washington came up with a plan to fix the nation’s debt.Now, a Starbucks investor wants Schultz to go one better by prohibiting the world’s biggest coffee chain from making political contributions or forming a political action committee.
Disclosure
Womble Carlyle: Pilfered Funds & The FCC’s Online Political Public File Rule: The Law Of Unintended Consequences
First, here’s how the evil-doers are apparently accessing the bank accounts. As nearly every broadcaster knows, last year the FCC concluded its long running effort to have television stations place their local public file on the internet. As a part of the new rules, broadcasters affiliated with the top four national television broadcast networks in the top 50 DMAs are required to upload their political files to an FCC-maintained website. All other TV broadcasters must begin to upload new political files on July 1, 2014.
Roll Call: Dialing for Dollars: The Other Money Matter on Their Minds This Week
By David HawkingsBecause they’re about to leave town for two weeks, these are the final days for House members and senators to raise donations from Washington lobbyists, trade associations and advocacy groups before March 31, the first important date on the midterm elections calendar. Candidates have to tell the Federal Election Commission in April about every dollar they raised and spent in the first three months of this year. The reports will get extraordinary scrutiny for signs of an incumbent’s unexpected fundraising weakness — or else apparent disinterest in running again.
Candidates, Politicians and Parties
The Hill: Dem super-PAC ad mocks RNC reforms as ‘Same Old Party’
By Geneva Sands“There’s no one reason we lost,” Priebus said in an address Monday, outlining the report. “Our message was weak; our ground game was insufficient; we weren’t inclusive; we were behind in both data and digital; our primary and debate process needed improvement. So, there’s no one solution: There’s a long list of them.”
USA Today: Lawmakers add relatives to campaign payrolls
Fredreka Schouten and Christopher SchnaarsWASHINGTON — Thirty-two members of Congress dispensed more than $2 million in campaign funds to pay relatives’ salaries during the 2012 election cycle, a USA TODAY analysis of the most recent campaign records shows.
Lobbying and Ethics
Roll Call: Street Talk: K Street Hiring Chill Leaves Members Cold
By Kate AckleyK Street shops, many in revenue decline for the past couple of years, can no longer afford the luxury of a high-priced former member. Senators usually don’t entertain offers worth less than $1 million, and House members’ threshold is typically about $700,000. And it’s an investment with no guaranteed payoff. Ever.
State and Local
New York –– NY Daily News: Potential mega-donors agree: Super PACs in New York mayoral race just not plausible under state election law
By Dan HirschhornBut the potential mega-donors all reached the same conclusion: state election law makes creating an effective super PAC in the mayoral election difficult if not impossible.“I work with a lot of different groups (who are) concerned about the race,” said Bradley Tusk, the campaign manager for Mayor Bloomberg’s 2009 reelection.
