Campaign finance news

CQ Today: Poker Lobby Wants New Deal From GOP

The Republicans’ last two national party platforms opposed Internet gambling. Online poker players want a new deal at this year’s convention next month. The Poker Players Alliance, which spent $1.2 million lobbying during the first half of 2008, aims to legalize virtual versions of the game now played under the table. Dozens of people listing poker as their profession have contributed $353,802 to federal candidates this election cycle. And the group will sponsor events at both conventions. Full Story

Aug. 20, 2008 - 10:25 a.m.

The Daily Query

The nonprofit group Americans for Prosperity, which advocates free market principles, has spent nearly $122,000 on radio ads hitting New Hampshire Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen for her stance on domestic oil production. The ads are running in every major media market in the state, including Boston. Shaheen, a Democrat, is challenging first-term Republican Sen. John E. Sununu in what promises to be one of the most contested Senate races in the country.
     Other notable filings with the Federal Election Commission and IRS in the past 24 hours:
      Independent Expenditures
• Matthew 25 Network (Supports Barack Obama)
• NARAL Pro-Choice America (Supports Barack Obama, Opposes John McCain)
• National Campaign Fund (Supports John McCain, Opposes Barack Obama)
• NRCC (Oppose Rep. Nancy Pelosi, CA-08)
      August Monthly
• ActBlue
• Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.: The Senate Victory Fund PAC
• Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.: Senate Majority Fund
• Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.: M-PAC
• Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska: Northern Lights Political Action Committee
• Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-S.C.: Building Relationships in Diverse Geographic Environments (BRIDGE PAC)
• Rep. Adam H. Putnam, R-Fla.: Red PAC
• Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska: Midnight Sun Political Action Committee

Aug. 19, 2008 - 1:42 p.m.

The Daily Query

John McCain and the Republican Party continue to build up their post-convention fundraising operations with the addition of two more joint fundraising committees, bringing the presidential candidate’s total to 10. McCain Leadership Michigan and McCain Leadership California are shared by the RNC, the respective state parties and McCain’s general election compliance fund.
     Because McCain is taking public funding for the general election he cannot raise additional money through his campaign committee after the conventions. Instead he will rely on the party and his compliance fund, which is separate from his regular campaign activities, to help him keep pace with Barack Obama, who is not taking public money and will continue to raise and spend private funds.
     Other notable filings with the Federal Election Commission and IRS over the weekend:
      Independent Expenditures
• Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (Opposes Steve Pearce, NM Senate; Opposes Marilyn Musgrave, CO-04)
• DCCC (Opposes Sean Parnell, Don Young, AK-AL; Supports Gerald Connolly, Opposes Keith Fimian, VA-11; Supports Paul E. Kanjorski, Opposes Lou Barletta, PA-11; Supports John Boccieri, Opposes Kirk Schuring, OH-16; Supports Linda Stender, Opposes Leonard Lance, NJ-07; Supports Debbie Halvorson, Opposes Martin Ozinga, IL-11)
• International Association of Firefighters Interested in Registration and Education PAC | Pasadena Area United Democratic Headquarters (Supports Barack Obama)
• The Legacy Committee PAC (Supports John McCain)
• Washington State Democratic Central Committee (Supports Darcy Burner, WA-08)
• Washington NARAL Stand Up for a Pro-Choice Future (Opposes Dave Reichert, WA-08)
      Electioneering Communications
• SEIU (John McCain)
      Pre-Primary
• FL-13: Jennings 2008
      August Monthly
• Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md.: Building a Majority PAC (BAM PAC)
      New Registration
• Reps. Ralph M. Hall and Sam Johnson, R-Texas: Victory Fund for Ralph Hall/Sam Johnson

Aug. 18, 2008 - 3:43 p.m.

CQ Politics: Eleven House Challengers Had Cash Edge — But Only Some Are Hot Contenders

As this election cycle entered its decisive phase, some challenging candidates managed to secure bigger cash reserves in their campaign accounts than did the incumbents they are seeking to replace. Eleven House candidates — nine Democrats and two Republicans — had more campaign cash on hand than the opposite-party incumbents they are challenging, according to a CQ Politics analysis of the candidates’ money figures as of their most recent reporting periods. Full Story

Aug. 18, 2008 - 11:47 a.m.

CQ Politics: Gifts, Cash Bonuses Allowed at Conventions on Taxpayers’ Tab

Booze, bling and staff bonuses can be paid for with taxpayer dollars at the upcoming national party conventions under federal regulations, according to a memo the Congressional Research Service (CRS) prepared for Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn last month. Full Story

Aug. 18, 2008 - 11:51 a.m.

CQ Politics: Embattled Alaska Republicans Raise Less in Recent Weeks

In the wake of the indictment against Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens , his likely Democratic challenger, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, reported outraising the longtime incumbent during the most recent reporting period. Republican Don Young , Alaska’s lone Congressman, is also up for re-election this year and faces competitive races in both the primary and general election. He reported raising just $84,000 from July 1 through Aug. 30 for a total of $1.1 million raised and $367,000 on hand. Full Story

Aug. 15, 2008 - 2:55 p.m.

The Daily Query

The Service Employees International Union spread its election message and money among several races this week. Its political action committee, SEIU COPE, spent at least $1.1 million ton radio and television ads opposing vulnerable Republican Sens. Gordon H. Smith of Oregon and John E. Sununu of New Hampshire.
     In addition to the PAC’s spending, the labor union funded $18,000 worth of radio ads criticizing the link between foreign governments and private equity firms and urging listeners to call Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s Senate office about the issue.
      Independent Expenditures
• Club for Growth PAC (Supports Sean Parnell, Opposes Don Young, AK-AL)
• DCCC (Supports Nick Lampson, Opposes Peter Olson, TX-22; Supports Mary Jo Kilroy, Opposes Steve Stivers, OH-15)
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Political Action Together PAC (Supports Barack Obama)
      Electioneering Communication
• Louisiana Conservative Action Network | They Work for Us (Mary Landrieu, LA Senate)
      Pre-Primary
• Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich.: Wolverine PAC
• AK-AL: Sean Parnell for Congress
• FL-08: Charlie Stuart for Congress | Keller for Congress
• FL-13: Vern Buchanan for Congress
• FL-16: Hal Valeche for Congress | Tim Mahoney for Florida
• FL-21: Lincoln Diaz-Balart for Congress
• FL-24: Tom Feeney for Congress | Kosmas for Congress
• FL-25: Mario Diaz-Balart for Congress
      New Registration
• Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii: Pono PAC

Aug. 15, 2008 - 1:38 p.m.

CQ Today: McCain Campaign Sets Fundraising Record in July

Republican presidential candidate John McCain just completed another solid, if not spectacular, month of fundraising with $27 million in receipts — his best fundraising month to date. Full Story

Aug. 15, 2008 - 12:33 p.m.

CQ Politics: McCain Gets a Bye from FEC Lawyers

Attorneys for the Federal Election Commission (FEC) have recommended giving Republican presidential candidate John McCain a pass on his decision earlier this year to withdraw from the federal public financing program for his campaign for the GOP nomination. Full story

Aug. 14, 2008 - 4:09 p.m.

The Daily Query

Two Minnesota Democrats in close House races this fall are teaming up to raise money. Rep. Tim Walz and Ashwin Madia have formed Minnesota’s Democratic Majority 2008. Walz, who won his 1st District seat in a close contest in 2006, has $1.2 million in the bank and a big cash lead on two potential Republican challengers. In the 3rd District race to succeed Rep. Jim Ramstad, Madia trails Republican rival Erik Paulson in cash on hand, $738,000 to his $1.1 million.
     Other notable filings with the Federal Election Commission and IRS in the past 24 hours:
      Independent Expenditures
• Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (Opposes Steve Pearce, NM Senate)
• DCCC (Supports Linda Stender, Opposes Leondard Lance, NJ-07; Supports Deborah Halvorson, Opposes Martin Ozinga, IL-11)
• National Campaign Fund (Opposes Barack Obama)
      August Monthly
• Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.: Republican Majority Fund
      New Registration
• Rep. Kristen Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and the New York State Democratic Party: Upstate Grassroots Victory 2008
• RNC, Ohio Republican Party State Central and Executive Committee, and John McCain 2008 General Election Compliance Fund: McCain Leadership Ohio

Aug. 14, 2008 - 12:28 p.m.

CQ Today: Lobbying Against Georgian Government May Have to Wait

The Russian incursion into Georgia could make one lobbying firm’s job a lot harder. The public affairs firm C&M Capitolink, an arm of international law firm Crowell & Moring, has signed on to represent American company iZee Enterprises in its effort to get federal backing in a battle with the Republic of Georgia. The California-based company claims that in 2007 the Georgian government raided three of its businesses based in the capital of Tbilisi and took control of their operations, in violation of international expropriation laws. They also seized $2 million worth of goods, the company claims. iZee wants Washington’s help in restoring its leases and property, but the United States, at least for the moment, seems more focused on condemning Russia’s assault on a sovereign nation than examining that nation’s own business practices.

Aug. 13, 2008 - 5:43 p.m.

The Daily Query

After a quiet June, the conservative 527 group Club for Growth.net stepped up its fundraising in July, tallying $410,000 in contributions, all from large donors. The organization spent $240,000 last month, mainly on television ads and mailing costs.
Other notable filings with the Federal Election Commission and IRS in the past 24 hours:
Independent Expenditures
• Club for Growth PAC (Supports Bob Schaffer, CO Senate)
• Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund (Opposes Marilyn Musgrave, CO-04)
• DCCC (Supports Nick Lampson, Oppose Peter Olson, TX-22; Support Deborah Halvorson, Oppose Martin Ozinga, IL-11)
• Legacy Committee Political Action Committee (Supports John McCain)
• Life and Liberty PAC (Supports John McCain)
• MoveOn.org Political Action (Supports Barack Obama)
• National Campaign Fund (Supports John McCain, Opposes Barack Obama)
• Republican Majority Campaign (Opposes Barack Obama)

Aug. 13, 2008 - 12:21 p.m.

Stevens’ Challenger Begich Shows Big Gains

While Republican Sen. Ted Stevens was fending off corruption charges last month his Democratic challenger was raking in big bucks. Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich raised $413,000 between July 1 and Aug. 6, according to the pre-primary report posted on his campaign Web site. He raised one quarter of his total $1.7 million during this period and also reported nearly $462,000 in cash on hand.
Stevens, who was indicted on seven counts of filing false financial disclosures, has not filed his pre-primary report, which is due Thursday. At the end of June, the Alaska Republican had raised $4.2 million and had nearly $1.7 million in the bank.

Aug. 12, 2008 - 3:17 p.m.

CQ MoneyLine Top Ten: Candidates Accepting the Most Out-of-State Money

Almost 29 percent of individual contributions to House candidates this year has come from outside their respective states. But many of the major candidates have accepted more money from individuals living elsewhere than they’ve accepted from their own state constituents. Here’s a breakdown of House candidates who have received higher percentages of their campaign money from individuals living in other states:
• Rep. David R. Obey , D-Wis. 89%
• Rep. John Conyers Jr. , D-Mich. 89%
• Rep. Nick J. Rahall, II, D-W.Va., 89%
• House candidate William Russell, R-Pa., 88%
• Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich , D-Ohio, 86%
• Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy , D-R.I., 85%
• House candidate Woodrow Myers, D-Ind., 83%
• Rep. Collin C. Peterson , D-Minn., 82%
• Rep. Earl Pomeroy , D-N.D., 81%
• Rep. C. W. Bill Young, R-Fla., 81%
Related story:Crossing State Lines for More Campaign Money

Aug. 12, 2008 - 3:28 p.m.

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