IRS
Washington Times: Norquist book: IRS assault on Tea Party saved Obama’s presidency
By Paul BedardIn End The IRS Before It Ends Us, a clarion call for a new, fairer tax system, Norquist pieces together the IRS scandal and scholarly electoral studies to show that plot worked to stifle the expanding Tea Party movement in the nick of time to help Obama.“Had the Tea Party repeated and built on their activism of 2009 and 2010 in 2011 and 2012, Obama would have lost the election. What happened to the Tea Party boost? It didn’t grow from 2010. It appeared to weaken,” writes Norquist, president of the influential Americans for Tax Reform.But, he adds, “The Tea Party didn’t fall down the stairs. It was pushed.”
Independent Groups
Capital Gazette: Right Stuff: Freedom of speech should be for all
By Mike CollinsThe question that has not been asked, however, is about the role of corporate speech in supporting progressive causes.When Indiana passed its version of the RFRA, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, who recently has told the world that he is gay, wrote in The Washington Post that, “On behalf of Apple, I’m standing up to oppose this new wave of legislation — wherever it emerges.”In Arkansas, where Wal-Mart is headquartered, CEO Doug McMillon issued a news statement that said, “We are asking Governor Hutchinson to veto this legislation.”Most media, especially The New York Times, cheered the statements by Cook and McMillon.Hypocritically, these are the same media organizations that rail against corporate speech in politics, and heap their righteous indignation upon the Supreme Court for the 2010 Citizens United decision.
The Hill: Senate Conservatives Fund targets McCain
By Ben Kamisar“There are few Republicans who have betrayed our conservative principles more than John McCain,” SCF President Ken Cuccinelli said in an email to supporters Tuesday of the party’s 2008 nominee for president.“John McCain lost his way a long time ago and it’s time to replace him with a strong conservative leader who will support and defend the Constitution.”
SCOTUS/Judiciary
VT Digger: Corren Files Federal Injunction To Block Campaign Finance Charges
By Morgan TrueIn this week’s filing, Corren’s attorney, John Franco, says that Sorrell’s case is arguably “the most significant threat to the electoral process and First Amendment rights that Vermont has seen in decades,” leading Corren to seek protection under the Civil Rights Act.Corren’s filing argues that the Vermont Democratic Party’s email fits within exemptions to the campaign finance law, and as a result Sorrell’s attempt to penalize Corren is in bad faith.Specifically, Corren sites a passage from session law, or the regulation as passed before it is written into statute, that states, “Exempting certain activities of political parties from the definition of what constitutes a contribution is important so as not to overly burden collective political activity.”
Kochs Obsession
USA Today: Billionaire plans to target GOP presidential hopefuls
By Fredreka SchoutenWASHINGTON – Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer’s political aides unveiled a campaign Monday to target the 2016 Republican presidential field on climate-change issues in battleground states.At the center of Steyer’s strategy: linking the candidates to the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, whose network has committed to spend nearly $900 million to advance its free-market agenda before the 2016 presidential election.“The Kochs and their allies are creating the new Koch Republican Party, the party of Big Oil,” Chris Lehane, Steyer’s top political strategist, said Monday as he announced the new effort to put GOP White House hopefuls on what Steyers’ team called the climate-change “hot seat.”
Free Beacon: Read the Memo on Jack Lew’s Meeting with Tom Steyer Treasury Tried to Keep Secret
By Lachlan Markay“If a Republican president did the same thing with the Koch brothers, we would skewer them,” a House Democrat told the Washington Examiner in June. “If you’re going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk.”At the time of the meeting, Steyer was racking up more than $73 million in political expenditures designed to maintain Democratic control of the U.S. Senate. He was by far the largest contributor to independent political groups during the 2014 cycle.While Steyer put up big bucks to support the president’s party, he received extensive access to Obama and other White House officials. Logs show that he has visited the White House 14 times since 2009, including a number of visits in 2014.
Candidates, Politicians, Campaigns, and Parties
NY Times: Rand Paul Is Trying to Match His Father’s Success With Small Donors
By Derek WillisOne of the most frequently asked questions about a Rand Paul presidential campaign is how much he’ll be able to rely upon the donors who helped Ron Paul, his father, raise more than $39 million in the 2012 presidential primaries.We don’t know the answer. The reason it’s hard to know is that the elder Mr. Paul was so good at raising money in small amounts. During his presidential bid, he raised 45 percent of his individual contributions in amounts less than $200, meaning the donors’ names never appeared in Federal Election Commission filings.If you look at just those contributors who gave at least $200 to Ron Paul, there isn’t a lot for Rand Paul to be excited about. Of the more than 21,000 people listed on Federal Election Commission filings as donors to Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign, just 305 have also given at least $200 to Rand Paul’s Senate campaign or his leadership PAC, according to an analysis by The Upshot. Those donations totaled $419,000.
The Hill: Paul hints at Clinton Foundation scandal
By Jonathan Easley“She was in charge of approving business deals as secretary of State … for anything that relates to our security,” Paul said. “There’s going to be something coming out in the next few weeks of companies she approved deals for … [that gave] significant amounts, over $100 million, being given to her foundation.Paul also criticized Clinton for the controversy over her use of a personal email account while secretary of State. He said the revelation that Clinton’s server had been wiped clean “sounds like destroying evidence to me.”“I think it shows that the Clintons believe that they’re above the law,” Paul said. “That for the rest of us, the common people, we have to obey, but they get to do whatever they want.”
Politico: John McCain announces reelection bid
By Kyle CheneyMcCain was elected to his fifth term in 2010 after a bruising primary in which he was forced to spend $20 million against little-known J.D. Hayworth, a former congressman. Much of his funding in that race was left over from his failed 2008 presidential bid, and his opponents are hopeful that he’s not as well-financed for a potentially expensive primary fight this time.
State and Local
Rhode Island –– AP: R.I. owed $2.2 million in fines for unfiled campaign finance reports
By Jennifer McDermottNow, some lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would stop people who owe fines and reports from running for office again until the reports are filed and the fines are paid.Rep. Helio Melo said he introduced the bill because he’s frustrated that so many people have a “total disregard” for the rules for running for office. State Sen. Daniel Da Ponte, who introduced a similar bill in the Senate, said there should be consequences for people who “snub the process.”The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union says the General Assembly cannot override the standards for running for office set by the state constitution.
Wisconsin –– NY Times: Wisconsin Re-elects Liberal Judge, but Opens Door for Conservative Chief Justice
By Mitch SmithIn a result befitting politically polarized Wisconsin, voters on Tuesday re-elected a State Supreme Court justice seen as liberal, but passed a constitutional amendment that will most likely lead to the installation of a conservative chief justice.Justice Ann Walsh Bradley handily defeated Judge James Daley of Rock County and conservatives who wanted to increase their majority on the officially nonpartisan court, The Associated Press reported. The vote on the amendment was closer.
