The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for January 9, 2023

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One of the Deals Made to Elect Kevin McCarthy Speaker Was With a SuperPAC

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Salon: – “Shameful”: Democrats sound alarm over “creepy” dark-money super PAC deal to help McCarthy win
Politico – Complaint from End Citizens United

Reuters – Kevin McCarthy elected House speaker, but at a cost
The Hill – McCarthy-backed PAC agrees to not spend in safe GOP open-seat primaries in Speakership concession
Groups Taking Action:

End Citizens United, Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

You’ve likely heard that Kev “The Contenda” McCarthy won in the 15th round in a heavyweight title bout early Saturday morning. Oh, sorry, wrong blood sport. That was U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy, who was elected Speaker of the House early Saturday morning on the 15th ballot.

It was, however, a slugfest, with ultra-Conservative Republicans in the Freedom Caucus, trading votes for key committee positions and rules changes. Such backroom deals are part of Congress.

But what raised an alarm for Democracy advocates was a reported deal negotiated as part of Congressional business with a SuperPAC. Salon reports McCarthy openly negotiated with the Congressional Leadership Fund SuperPAC to NOT run and support more moderate candidates against Freedom Caucus-supported ultra-Conservative candidates for open primary seats.

In a letter published by Politico, End Citizens United, a money-in-politics watchdog group, complained to the Office of Congressional Ethics, that QUOTE, “McCarthy and House staff acting on his behalf are using official resources to plan and direct campaign & political activities with federal super PACs” UNQUOTE, in violation of House rules, and that McCarthy and agents working on his behalf are directing the political decisions of Congressional Leadership Fund, in violation of the soft money prohibition of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

Another of McCarthy’s concessions to the Freedom Caucus? Gut the Office of Congressional Ethics.We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post One of the Deals Made to Elect Kevin McCarthy Speaker Was With a SuperPAC appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

Today’s Links
The Campaign Legal Center – “Voters Need to Know What “Redboxing” Is and How It Undermines Democracy“

NH Public Radio –  In N.H., Pro-Fiorina Super PAC Tests Boundaries in Campaign Ground Game
Get involved!  End Citizens United, American Promise

Listen: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/americandemocracyminute/episodes/2022-05-15T08_51_53-07_00

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping your government by and for the people.

The Campaign Legal Center just shared an article on  “Red Boxing,” the slimy ways that campaigns and political action committees are navigating around federal campaign finance rules.

The new limits for a personal contribution to a campaign for federal office is $2,900 per person.  But for a Super PAC, there are no limits to donations.  And the super-rich can give huge amounts, but only if the Super PAC doesn’t give the money to the candidate, AND there is no coordination on spending or strategy between the candidate and the Super PAC.  But campaigns are using a special spot on their public websites, often surrounded by a red box, to send a message to SuperPACs supporting their candidate on what they need done.  The Campaign Legal Center says that phrases like “voters need to see” signals messages to be delivered via TV ads, “read” is asking for direct mail, and “see on the go” is a request for digital ads. 

In the 2016 Presidential campaign, candidate Carly Fiorina’s “Carly for President” team used such red box techniques to communicate the candidate’s schedule in the NH Primary, while the “Carly for America” SuperPAC scheduled the venue, provided staffers, and communicated the event.  

Both parties use this sleazy practice, and so far, the Federal Election Commission has not taken substantive action.  

Links to the Campaign Legal Center article are at our website, AmericanDemocracyMinute.org/  

Granny D said, “Democracy is not  something we have, it’s something we DO.” 

For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

The post American Democracy Minute for May 16, 2022: Campaigns Using “Red Boxing” to Coordinate with Super PACs appeared first on American Democracy Minute.