Rachael Marcus stories from The Center for Public Integrity

Fiscal cliff politics: Dems target GOP House members

2012-12-19T17:47:05-05:00

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is running radio and Web ads that target 21 vulnerable Republican House members for “holding the middle class hostage” during the fiscal cliff negotiations.

The campaign is a bit unusual — most parties prefer to run ads a bit nearer to an actual election.

“It’s not really common to see much Democratic or Republican congressional spending this soon after an election,” said Michael Franz of the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks and analyzes campaign advertising. “The permanent campaign is really here.”

As part of its “GOP Hostage Takers” campaign, the DCCC is targeting U.S. representatives with radio and web ads called the “Holiday Cliff,” which look and sound like mock movie trailers, complete with a car hurtling off a winding mountain road.

“This holiday season, if you make only one phone call, if you send only one email, tell Congressman Chris Gibson — don’t drive us off the cliff,” the narrator says.

In addition to Gibson, R-N.Y., the DCCC has targeted five other Republican representatives with video ads — Gary Miller of California, Dan Webster of Florida, Tom Latham of Iowa, John Kline of Minnesota and Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington.

All six are considered vulnerable in 2014 according to Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. Eleven of the 15 members targeted in the radio ads are also beatable, according to the Center.

“The ads are about the here and now, not just about 2014,” Sabato told the Center in an email. “But no doubt they are also intended to send a message about the next election, that what the members do now will not be forgotten in two years.”

“It’s more of a warning to a member of Congress that, ‘Hey you’re in our sights. You better think carefully about this vote,’” said Travis Ridout, also of the Wesleyan Media Project.

A press release from the DCCC says the legislators were targeted for their refusal to sign a discharge petition to allow the House to vote on extending tax cuts for the middle class, a measure the Senate approved.

A discharge petition is an administrative tactic used to force a vote on a bill that is stuck in committee. In this case, it is the House version of the Senate’s bill to extend tax cuts on all but the wealthiest Americans.

The petition has 182 signatures. It needs 218 to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. No Republicans have signed.

A DCCC spokesman declined to comment on how much the ad campaign costs.

The DCCC spent more than $180 million on the 2012 election and had $2.5 million in the bank as of Nov. 26, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Crossroads GPS, a conservative nonprofit, is targeting vulnerable Democratic senators for not wanting to cut safety net programs.

Others groups, such as labor unions, AARP, big business groups and the anti-debt advocacy organization “Fix the Debt” are also airing ads.

The cliff the ads refer to occurs Jan. 1, 2013 when mandatory cuts in spending and the elimination of tax breaks are scheduled to kick in. Without a compromise between the two parties, it is feared the nation will slip into a recession.

'Fiscal cliff' ads target candidates in 2014

2012-12-14T12:29:12-05:00

Hope that negotiations over the so-called “fiscal cliff” will avoid partisan politics were dashed this week as a round of ads targeting four precariously positioned Senate Democrats hit the airwaves.

Crossroads GPS, the politically active nonprofit that spent millions in the 2012 election, launched a $240,000 radio ad campaign urging Sens. Mark Begich of Alaska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Tim Johnson of South Dakota to “stop the spending.”

All four senators’ seats are considered up-for-grabs in 2014.

Congress and the White House are scrambling to come to a deal on spending cuts and tax increases set to go into effect in the New Year.

Crossroads, co-founded by Karl Rove, a former aid to Republican President George W. Bush, is one of the heavy-hitting advocacy organizations speaking out.

Labor unions, big business and other groups with a vested interest in what happens in Washington are also peppering the public with messages urging citizens to tell Congress to cut spending, extend tax breaks and protect the social safety net — all in the name of avoiding the tax increases and spending cuts set to go into effect after the first of the year.

Return of Rove

Exactly one month after the most expensive election in history — one in which Crossroads GPS spent more than $70 million — the organization launched a $500,000 television campaign on cable networks attacking President Barack Obama’s plan to avoid the fiscal cliff.

“President Obama promised a balanced plan,” the ad says. “But so far, a huge tax increase is his solution.”

This was followed five days later by the senator-specific radio campaign, which continued to attack the Obama plan. The proposal features about $600 billion in spending cuts. The Republicans’ plan features about $1.2 trillion in cuts. Obama’s plan allows for $1.4 trillion in net new revenue; the Republicans’ plan, $800 billion in new revenue.

Crossroads GPS spokesman Jonathan Collegio would not discuss what the ad campaign has in store, other than to say that the group will continue to push the president for more spending cuts.

“If we don’t see the negotiations moving in that direction, we’ll continue to advocate in that direction,” he said. “At this point, the president isn’t coming forward with a balanced approach that has any kind of meaningful spending reductions.”

The Cook Political Report lists nine U.S. Senate races with Democrats as incumbents as competitive in 2014. The other five are West Virginia (Jay Rockefeller); Arkansas (Mark Pryor); Iowa (Tom Harkin); Minnesota (Al Franken) and Montana (Max Baucus).

Labor

While Crossroads is fighting for spending cuts, unions are fighting to prevent them.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees teamed up with the Service Employees International Union and the National Education Association to convince legislators not to cut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and education.

The trio opened its campaign with television and radio ads during the third week of November in Colorado, Missouri, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Alaska. A second round of ads debuted Dec. 7.

The ads target both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate.

Several of the Democrats named appeared to waver on opposition to spending cuts. Ads aimed at Republicans encouraged them to support revenue increases.

Both were “significant six-figure buys” according to Chris Fleming, an AFSCME spokesman.

Safety net programs have become the major focus for the three unions because they provide economic security to middle and working class families who have already taken a hit during the recession.

“Are [legislators] looking out to preserve middle class tax cuts for hard-working men and women, or tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthy?” said Kusler in a press release.

Kusler also told the Center that Medicare is of special interest to the NEA, which primarily deals with education issues, because when federal funding to Medicare is cut, states must make up the difference, often by cutting education budgets.

AARP is also defending Social Security and Medicare in a big way — a seven-figure ad campaign called “You’ve Earned a Say” involves television and print ads urging Washington not to “cram decisions about these programs into a last-minute deal.”

“The debate in this lame duck Congress has the potential to impact the lives of older Americans,” said AARP spokesman Joshua Rosenblum. An AARP survey of 50-years-and-older Americans conducted just after the election showed that 70 percent favored no cuts to Social Security or Medicare, Rosenblum said.

Big business

Executives from some of America’s largest companies are more concerned with taxes than spending cuts.

The Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs from major companies, is pushing “It’s Time to Act,” a campaign that includes a series of print and radio ads specifically targeting Washington, D.C.

The group wants to extend many of the Bush-era tax cuts, which rung in lower personal income tax rates as well as lower capital gains and dividends rates, among others. Some analysts warn that higher taxes on investments could lead to a stock sell-off.

In a video on its website, CEOs from Caesars Entertainment Corp., Motorola Solutions Inc. and Aetna, among others, argue for “responsible spending,” “fixing the debt situation,” and above all, quickly coming to an agreement to reduce the uncertainty they say their companies now face.

The Alliance for Savings and Investment, whose members include many Fortune 500 companies, has also run print ads advocating keeping taxes low — in particular, the capital gains and dividends rates.

With the prospect of dividends rates rising from 15 percent to the normal income tax rate – as high as 43.3 percent for the upper bracket if all tax cuts expire – investors have been dumping dividend-paying stocks, and some dividend-paying companies will pay out early to shareholders to potentially save them from the higher tax rate. Some of these companies have had to borrow in order to do this.

The potential rise in capital gains from 15 percent to 25 percent could also spurn a stock sell-off as investors seek to take advantage of the more favorable rate.

The Alliance for Savings and Investment’s chairman is former Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La. who is also a member of the steering committee of “Fix the Debt,” a project of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. Fix the Debt was co-founded by Democrat Erskine Bowles, chief of staff under President Bill Clinton, and former Republican Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming.

The pair headed Obama’s debt-reduction commission that spearheaded a plan to save about twice as much as both the president’s plan and the Republicans’ plan through a combination spending cuts and tax increases.

The organization is running print, online and outdoor ads. Its newest ad, online at The Nation, features what spokesman Jon Romano called “unlikely voices,” — a teacher and a fireman concerned about the national debt. Earlier ads riffed on famous slogans, including Nike (“Just fix it”) and McDonald’s (“I’m fixin’ it”). Television ads are in the works.

Fix the Debt has raised $42 million for its campaign to advocate avoiding the fiscal cliff with a combination of tax increases, spending cuts and entitlement reforms, Romano said. Romano did not respond to follow-up questions about who the group’s top donors are.

Crossroads GPS is a nonprofit and is not required to release the names of its donors.

Fix the Debt's leadership committee includes representatives from many of the same companies as the Alliance for Savings and Investment and the Business Roundtable — executives from AT&T and Verizon, for example, are members of all three.

Despite this, Romano said Fix the Debt is really more of a “bipartisan, grassroots campaign.”

The group is active in 17 states and boasts more than 320,000 signatories of its “Citizens Petition to Fix the Debt,” according to its website.

“We believe that any deal needs to be big, bipartisan and balanced. It needs to include reining in spending; it needs to include real entitlement reform; and it needs to raise revenue,” Romano said. “It’s the test of our time for our political leaders.”

Bad day for super donors

2012-11-07T11:27:44-05:00

Editor's Note: Today marks the final installment of the Daily Disclosure. To keep up with post-election, money-in-politics news, please visit Consider the Source.

Money can't buy happiness, nor can it buy an election, apparently.

The top donors to super PACs in 2012 did not fare well — casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, the No. 1 super PAC contributor with more than $53 million in giving, backed eight losers at this writing.

Adelson was top backer of the pro-Mitt Romney Restore Our Future super PAC, with $20 million in donations. Romney lost to President Barack Obama. In addition, Adelson's contributions to super PACs backing U.S. Senate candidates in Florida, Virginia and New Jersey were also for naught.

He was not the only conservative billionaire who had a bad night.

Contran Corp. CEO Harold Simmons, (No. 2), homebuilder Bob Perry (No. 3) and TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, (No.4), also bet on Romney. Collectively, the trio gave $13.4 million to Restore Our Future, and Ricketts’ super PAC, Ending Spending Action Fund, spent an additional $9.9 million helping Romney’s failed bid.

The super donor winner of the night was Newsweb Corp. CEO Fred Eychaner (No. 5). Eychaner gave $3.5 million to pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action through the most recent filing period, which ended Oct. 17, according to Federal Election Commission records.

In Florida, Republican Rep. Connie Mack lost his challenge to the popular Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who won with 55 percent of the vote. Adelson gave $2 million to the pro-Mack super PAC Freedom PAC, and Simmons and Perry gave a combined $255,000 to the group.

The hotly contested Senate race in Virginia attracted $2.5 million from Adelson and Perry, both giving to Independence Virginia, the super PAC supporting former Republican Sen. George Allen. His opponent, Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine, won the seat with 52 percent of the vote.

Adelson also invested in the re-election of Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., in Florida’s 18th District, who was trailing in his battle with Democratic newcomer Patrick Murphy at this writing.

The casino billionaire’s $1 million to Patriot Prosperity, a New Jersey-specific super PAC supporting the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Joe Kyrillos, and the Republican candidate for U.S. House in the state’s 9th District, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, also did not pay off.

During the primary season, Adelson’s $16.5 million in contributions to the super PAC Winning Our Future was not enough guide former House Majority Leader Newt Gingrich to a Republican presidential nomination, though it is credited with keeping him in the race longer than expected. Nor were Adelson’s contributions enough to help Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst win the GOP primary for Texas Senate earlier this year, a cause to which gave at least a quarter-million dollars.

Adelson did score one point with his $2 million contribution that helped sink a Michigan ballot initiative seeking to enshrine collective bargaining in the state’s constitution. Adelson runs the only non-union casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.

Win-Loss Rundown:

(Giving to candidate-specific super PACs in the federal election)

Sheldon Adelson, Republican, $53.7 million*

Mitt Romney — loss
Connie Mack (Florida Senate) — loss
George Allen (Virginia Senate) — loss
Allen West (House, Florida’s 18th) — too close to call, but leaning toward loss
Joe Kyrillos (New Jersey Senate) — loss
Shmuley Boteach (House, New Jersey’s 9th) — loss
Newt Gingrich (GOP presidential primary) — loss
David Dewhurst (GOP primary, Texas Senate) — loss

Harold Simmons, Republican, $26.9 million*

Mitt Romney — loss
Connie Mack (Florida Senate) — loss
Rick Santorum (GOP presidential primary) — loss
Newt Gingrich (GOP presidential primary) — loss
Rick Perry (GOP presidential primary) — loss
David Dewhurst (GOP primary, Texas Senate) — loss
Orrin Hatch (GOP primary, Utah Senate) — win

Bob Perry, Republican, $21.5 million*

Mitt Romney — loss
George Allen (Virginia Senate) — loss
Connie Mack (Florida Senate) — loss
Rick Perry (GOP presidential primary) — loss
David Dewhurst (GOP primary, Texas Senate) — loss

Joe Ricketts, Republican, $12.9 million*

Mitt Romney — loss

Fred Eychaner, Democrat, $12 million*

Barack Obama — win

Tuesday marked the first presidential election under the new campaign finance regime installed following the 2010 Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court decision. The ruling paved the way for super PACs and nonprofits, allowing them to accept unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations and unions, which could be spent on advertising backing or opposing candidates.

*As of Oct. 17, 2012 for the 2011-2012 election cycle. Source: Center for Responsive Politics and Center for Public Integrity analysis of Federal Election Commission records. Totals include contributions from individuals, family members and corporations that are controlled by the individual super donor.

Daily Disclosure: Last-minute efforts from a shadowy group favor Romney

2012-11-06T10:10:12-05:00

In the day before the election, more than $3.5 million was spent supporting GOP nominee Mitt Romney or opposing President Barack Obama while $34,000 was spent in support of the president, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

While Romney has enjoyed greater support with outside groups, the president’s campaign has raised more money, which has kept the two candidates about even in total ad spending.

Reports filed Monday show that in addition to the spending on the presidential race, groups also spent $800,000 to influence votes for U.S. Senate and House races.

Americans for Responsible Leadership, a conservative nonprofit, spent more than any other outside group yesterday with $2.7 million, most of it supporting Romney. The Arizona-based group did not become active in the election until mid-October.

Because it is a nonprofit, it is not required to disclose its donors; however, a court battle in California — the group has also been spending big on state-level ballot measures —culminated yesterday with the group disclosing its donors, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The disclosure wasn’t particularly illuminating — the nonprofit group’s donors were other nonprofits, which also keep their donors secret.

Americans for Job Security, for example, passed money to the Center to Protect Patients’ Rights, another nonprofit, which gave money to Americans for Responsible Leadership, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The original donors to Americans for Job Security are unknown.

California’s Fair Practices Political Commission said the failure to disclose the transfers amounts to campaign money laundering, Talking Points Memo reported.

The Center to Protect Patients’ Rights, which has distributed large checks to various other conservative nonprofits, is run by Sean Noble, whom Politico described as a “Koch operative.” The Koch brothers, Charles and David, are wealthy businessmen whose nonprofits have spent tens of millions of dollars this election.

The Center to Protect Patients’ Rights and Americans for Job Security are part of a larger, non-disclosing network of politically active, conservative nonprofits, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

By Oct. 30, more than $840 million in outside money had poured into the 2012 elections, according to an analysis by the Center for Public Integrity and CRP, with conservative outside spenders exceeding liberal spenders by roughly 69 percent to 28 percent.

In other outside spending news:

Majority PAC, the super PAC supporting Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, released “Mainland” supporting Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and “Pay Raises” opposing Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D.
American Future Fund, a conservative nonprofit, released “Small Things” opposing Obama.

Who paid for that political ad? You might be surprised by the answer. Email us and we will try to find out. Describe the advertisement — was it mean or nice? Will it affect your vote? When and where did it run and what were the names of the candidates? And PLEASE tell us what the disclaimer at the end says, and we will check it out.

Issa committee accused of making 'sham' campaign ad

2012-11-06T09:49:07-05:00

Watchdog groups are accusing a House committee that investigates wasteful government spending of apparently using taxpayer funds to produce a campaign video attacking President Barack Obama.

The video was produced by House Committee on Oversight and Reform, chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. The one-minute video criticizes Obama for the cost of state dinners and was posted to the committee’s YouTube channel on Friday. It has made its way through Twitter and conservative blogs over the weekend.

“Spend like he says, not like he does,” the narrator says of the president, as a photo of Obama in a tuxedo holding champagne shares a split screen with dollar bills raining down.

“It is so far beyond the pale. I think it is clearly an ethics violation,” said Melanie Sloan, the executive director of the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. “It is one of the most outrageous abuses of official resources I’ve ever seen.”

CREW plans to file a complaint, Sloan said.

When asked if taxpayer funds were used to create the video, committee spokesman Seamus Kraft said in an email that “the committee’s video presentation is fully consistent with House rules and did not incur any additional taxpayer expenditures for its production.”

According to Paul Ryan, an election law and ethics attorney at the Campaign Legal Center, the video amounts to an “electioneering” campaign ad — it supports or opposes a candidate even though it doesn’t explicitly say vote for or against that candidate.

It falls short only in that it wasn’t broadcast on television.

“It’s a sham issue ad attacking president Obama in the immediate lead-up to a presidential election,” he said. “I don’t think government resources and congressional committees should be in the business of engaging in such actions even if these fall short of a legal definition of what constitutes an express advocacy campaign ad.”

If the ad were aired on television, it would likely need to be reported to the Federal Election Commission, according to Ryan.

Issa, the chairman of the oversight committee, has been an outspoken critic of Obama. Issa requested Friday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton justify the cost of a state dinner for the president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon that was featured in the Web video.

The costs of the dinners are attributed to unspecified “documents” in an October article in the Washington Examiner, the Web video’s only source.

Democrats on the committee disavowed the video.

“This is an inappropriate use of committee resources,” said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.

House rules prohibit congressmen and women from using official resources for campaign activities.

Investment managers top list of super PAC donors

2012-11-05T11:17:13-05:00

Despite his vast wealth, Sheldon Adelson was not exactly a household name when the Republican presidential primary campaign got under way. But the casino magnate’s multimillion-dollar contributions to a pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC ended that.

Adelson’s support was linked to a shared stance with Gingrich as staunch supporters of Israel. Not quite so well publicized was Adelson’s financial stake in who wins the presidency.

A second Obama term, thanks to the incumbent’s proposed tax policies — could cost Adelson billions if he brought home profits earned at his overseas casinos, according to tax experts.

Since Gingrich flamed out in the primaries, Adelson and his wife Miriam have shifted their allegiance to GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, giving the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future $20 million.

With Romney as president, Adelson, the billionaire chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., could bring his profits home tax-free.

The Las Vegas Sands’ overseas operations account for 86 percent of its revenue from casinos, hotels and shopping, according to its 2011 annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Sands’ most lucrative holdings are in Macau, a special administrative region in China.

Super PACs like Restore Our Future can accept unlimited contributions from billionaires, corporations and unions and spend the money on ads helping their favorite candidates, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision.

Adelson and family’s nearly $54 million in contributions through Oct. 17 to conservative super PACs puts the gambling industry at second place among super PAC donors’ corporate interests, according to the Center for Public Integrity’s analysis of data from the Center for Responsive Politics and the Federal Election Commission.

With no limits on giving, economic analysis of donations to super PACs are more about a few wealthy individuals’ interests than fulfilling an industry’s legislative goals.

Adelson and family are responsible for more than 98 percent of all casino industry contributions to super PACs — or $53.7 million out of $54.6 million — but his legislative agenda does not necessarily reflect that of the American Gaming Association, which lists as major issues online gambling and visa reform to allow more high rollers to come to American casinos.

Finance industry tops list

The top industry-donor to super PACs in the 2012 election cycle by far has been securities and investments at roughly $94 million, according to records.

The list of donors is dominated by a relatively small number of extremely wealthy hedge fund and private equity millionaires and billionaires. The top 10 individual donors to this industry are responsible for almost half of its super PAC contributions. Twenty-one people and two corporations have given $1 million or more.

The average itemized individual contribution to all super PACs is a little more than $23,000, according to the Center’s analysis. The average contribution to a super PAC from the investment industry is more than $96,000.

The third-leading industry-donor, chemicals and related manufacturing, accounts for $31 million of all super PAC contributions, and almost $27 million comes from Harold Simmons, his wife Annette and his company. Contran Corp. controls several subsidiaries involved in chemical manufacturing, waste disposal and other businesses.

Topping Simmons’ agenda is minimizing the regulatory reach of government, according to an interview he gave to The Wall Street Journal in March. Many of Contran’s subsidiaries are subject to environmental regulations that cut into profits.

The fourth-leading donor by industry is real estate at about $23 million thanks to seven-figure donations from the National Association of Realtors and Harlan Crow and Crow Holdings. The NAR favors access to credit and tax breaks so more people can afford to buy homes.

Fifth is the homebuilding industry with about $22 million, again a category dominated by a single wealthy individual — Texan Bob Perry. He has given $21.5 million to conservative super PACs to date.

Perry is perhaps best known for financing the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads during the 2004 election that helped sink John Kerry’s presidential campaign, but he has been a major donor to Texas political campaigns since the 1980s. He favors limiting damages a jury can award plaintiffs in civil suits.

Romney is ‘one of them’

The largest donors from the investment industry are not investment banks but an exclusive sub-group known as “alternative investing” — hedge funds and private equity firms.

Among the 26 donors to Restore Our Future who have given $1 million or more, 11 are in the hedge fund or private equity business.

Among the alternative investment industry’s top donors are Robert Mercer, a co-CEO of the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies, who gave $1 million to Restore Our Future and $600,000 to Club for Growth Action, which favors eliminating the capital gains tax.

Other top donors include TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, who now runs an investment firm, Paul Singer of Elliott Management, Wyoming investor Foster Friess and John Childs, chairman and CEO of a private equity firm.

Eighty percent of super PAC contributions from the investment community have gone to conservative super PACs, according to the Center's analysis.

James Simons, the founder of Renaissance Technologies, and George Soros*, the chairman of the hedge fund Soros Fund Management, have given a combined $10.1 million to pro-Obama and pro-Democratic super PACs.

Romney himself was a private equity man in his days at Bain Capital, which he co-founded.

“They view [Romney] as one of them,” said David Kautter, the director of the Kogod Tax Center at American University. “They tend to view him as someone who accumulated substantial wealth doing what they do, someone who understands what they do and someone who believes that what they do provides substantial value to the economy.”

Romney has said he would maintain, lower or eliminate the capital gains rate at various points during the race. Low rates benefit hedge fund and private equity managers, whose compensation comes primarily from investment returns.

Obama supports treating this type of compensation as regular income and subject to income tax rates up to 39.6 percent. In addition, Obama advocates raising the capital gains rate to 20 percent.

Adelson’s gamble on Romney

Romney was not Adelson’s top choice. Adelson invested $16.5 million in former House Speaker Gingrich via Winning Our Future, the primary pro-Gingrich super PAC, before the candidate dropped out May 2.

Now the top supporter of Restore Our Future, Adelson has said he is willing to spend $100 million electing Romney and a Republican Congress. The spending has made him newsworthy.

Adelson’s steadfast and occasionally controversial positions on Israel’s national security have also increased his profile in the national media and provided fodder for the opposition.

He opposes a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, once calling it a “stepping stone for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people.”

He was also once one of the biggest backers of AIPAC — the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. But Adelson broke off relations with the group in 2007 when it supported increasing U.S. economic aid to Palestinians.

Adelson shifted his financial support to the Republican Jewish Coalition, where he sits on the board. The politically active nonprofit has reported spending $4.6 million on ads attacking Obama.

In an op-ed for the JNS News Service, Adelson wrote that American Jews should not trust Obama when it comes to Israel.

“For Obama, the issue is only political; for Israel, it’s existential — a matter of survival,” he wrote.

On paper, both Obama and Romney have similar positions on Israel — they both are committed to having a “special relationship” with the nation.

“Where they differ is in the way the current president perceives Israel,” said Aaron David Miller, an Israel expert at the Woodrow Wilson Center. “Israel is more of a matter of national security interest than it is a values argument.”

While Romney has a more “spontaneous, emotional instinct” to identify with Israel, Miller said, Obama seems less emotionally connected.

“In part it’s a generational thing,” Miller said — Obama came of age after the Israeli occupation. “And in part it’s a matter of temperament.”

Idealism or self-interest?

It is impossible to say for certain whether Adelson’s support of Romney is based on idealism or self-interest or both. Adelson’s spokesman refused to comment for this report.

Romney’s tax policies and Adelson’s financial interests are aligned, especially when it comes to tax treatment of overseas profits.

The Romney-backed “territorial tax system” would allow the Sands to bring its future foreign profits back to the U.S. free from U.S. income tax. Romney’s plan also calls for a “tax holiday” that would allow American companies with profits stashed abroad to repatriate them tax-free.

A 2004 tax holiday resulted in the repatriation of one-third of all offshore earnings, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service.

Experts predict a territorial system would have a similar effect.

“I think it is very likely that more foreign earnings will end up back in the U.S. than we would have under the current worldwide system,” said Kautter.

Obama opposes the territorial tax system and has proposed a minimum tax for multinational corporations’ overseas earnings.

Under the current system, American companies that have operations abroad pay income tax to the country in which they earn the money then pay U.S. income tax when they bring profits home. Income taxes paid to the foreign government are deducted from the U.S. income tax when the money is repatriated; earnings left abroad are not subject to U.S. taxes.

Will McBride, the chief economist at the conservative Tax Foundation, calls the U.S. income tax on foreign profits a “repatriation tax.”

“Naturally that discourages business from bringing that money back home,” he said.

Obama and others argue that a territorial tax system would encourage American businesses to move overseas.

The Sands holds $5.6 billion in in overseas profits, according to its 2011 annual report. Under Romney’s policy, Adelson and his company could repatriate it all for free.

The tax holiday combined with a switch to a territorial tax system would potentially provide a $1.8 billion tax break to the Sands the first year, according to a study from a liberal think tank, the Center for American Progress.

Adelson himself, as majority owner, stands to benefit.

“By a reasonable but conservative estimate, the tax cut he stands to get from Romney’s tax policies over a four-year term would be well over $2 billion,” said Seth Hanlon, the author of the study. “When you consider he’s going to spend $100 million on the presidential race, the return on investment is more than 2000 percent.”

*George Soros is the chairman of the Open Society Foundation, which provides funding for the Center for Public Integrity. For a list of Center donors, visit the website.

Daily Disclosure: Obama slammed with $37 million in attack ads

2012-11-05T12:49:11-05:00

In the final weekend before Election Day, President Barack Obama was hit with more than $37 million in attack ads; Romney faced less than $1 million in attacks, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Outside spenders dropped roughly $56.3 million on the presidential election in recent days, according to reports filed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. More than two-thirds of the ads are negative, a Center for Public Integrity analysis shows.

On all federal races, outside groups reported over the weekend spending roughly $73.3 million.

The biggest outside spender, not counting party committees and traditional political action committees, was the conservative super PAC American Crossroads, co-founded by GOP strategist Karl Rove. It reported spending nearly $23 million, almost entirely opposing Obama.

In a distant second was American Future Fund, a conservative nonprofit, which reported spending $7.9 million, most of it supporting Romney. Two new anti-Obama ads, “Fed Up” and “Delphi” debuted Friday.

The primary pro-Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future, reported spending $4.4 million opposing Obama. It released the ad “Flatline” on Friday.

The main pro-Obama super PAC, Priorities USA Action, did not report spending any money over the weekend. An email sent to supporters indicates it is planning on making a final ad buy to continue airing “Stage,” which it says is its most effective ad of the election.

The top liberal spender on the presidential election over the weekend was Planned Parenthood Action Fund with $623,000 supporting Obama and opposing Romney.

Majority PAC, a super PAC supporting Senate Democrats, was the biggest overall liberal outside spender, with $2.5 million opposing Republican candidates for the upper chamber.

Of the U.S. Senate races, Arizona attracted the most outside money over the weekend — $1.8 million for the faceoff between former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, the Democrat, and Rep. Jeff Flake, the Republican. More than $851,000 went to opposing Flake.

The Senate race in Virginia between former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine and former Republican Sen. George Allen attracted $1.7 million. More than $1 million went to opposing Kaine.

It will not be known who financed the super PAC ads until after the election. The donors behind the nonprofit ads are not required to ever be disclosed.

In other outside spending news:

American Future Fund also released “Tomorrow” opposing Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who is running for U.S. Senate in the state.
The conservative nonprofit U.S. Chamber of Commerce released an ad opposing Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., for $500,000.
Women Vote!, the super PAC of pro-abortion rights group EMILY’s List, released an ad opposing Republican Rep. Frank Guinta in New Hampshire’s 1st District and an ad opposing Republican Rep. Charlie Bass in New Hampshire’s 2nd District.
Ending Spending Action Fund, the conservative super PAC founded by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, released “Chillicothe,” which supports Romney and opposes Obama, and “Clear Choice,” a radio ad that supports Nebraska state Sen. Deb Fischer, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in the state.
The nonprofit League of Conservation Voters released “Leaders Lead,” opposing Romney and supporting Obama for their positions on climate change.

Daily Disclosure: Conservative outside ads spin Obama’s Sandy response

2012-11-02T10:06:34-04:00

With President Barack Obama earning high marks on his response to Hurricane Sandy, conservative outside spending groups and Republicans are seeking to contrast it with charges that he dropped the ball in Benghazi.

Americans for Limited Government’s “Obama Campaign Has Its ‘Perfect Storm’” and Campaign for American Values PAC’s “Obama Has Left Americans Behind” follow the line of attack launched by Michael Brown, the director of FEMA under George W. Bush, who was widely criticized for botching the response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

While the new ads do not go quite as far as Brown, who charged the president with acting too quickly on the response to Sandy, they do capitalize on his juxtaposition of the president’s response to Sandy and his response to the terrorist attack on the American consulate in Libya.

Obama was “openly working with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during hurricane recovery,” the ALG ad begins. Christie, a Republican with presidential aspirations, heaped praise on the president for his response, which was seen as a hit to GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

“Obama didn’t react to terrorist attacks in Libya the same way he reacted to Sandy,” cursive text on the screen continues. “The Obama admin. [sic] tried to blame the attack on a movie released on YouTube. Maybe they can try to blame Hurricane Sandy on one of those Al Gore movies.”

A movie poster from “The Day After Tomorrow,” a high-budget, special-effects driven disaster film from 2004, is shown in the background.

The ad from Campaign for American Values PAC, headed by conservative evangelical activist Gary Bauer, shows a clip of Obama speaking after the hurricane saying, “We pull together and we leave nobody behind.”

“Sadly, Mr. President,” the narrator says, “Your administration did leave somebody behind.”

The ad flashes photos of the four Americans killed in the Benghazi attacks, who reportedly had requested and were denied additional security in the days before the attack.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he did not have adequate information to “put forces at risk in that situation.”

While conservatives are using Hurricane Sandy to criticize Obama’s response to past disasters, Democrats are using it to criticize Romney for past statements about wanting to eliminate the federal disaster response agency.

In the wake of Sandy, Romney released a statement changing his tune. He said that as president, he would “ensure FEMA has the funding it needs to fulfill its mission,” though he reiterated his intent to direct “maximum resources” to state and local first responders.

Americans for Limited Government, a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” organization that functions like a super PAC but is not required to disclose its donors, has not reported any campaign spending to the Federal Election Commission, though it has produced at least a dozen online videos opposing Obama and other Democrats.

The Campaign for American Values PAC, a super PAC, has reported spending $575,000 opposing Obama and supporting Romney. Its biggest donor is Texas-based “Corporate Land Management,” which contributed $600,000. Mother Jones traced the generically named corporation to Tim Horner, the president of a jewelry company that advocates Christian values.

In other outside spending news:

Fair Share Action, a liberal super PAC, reported spending $714,000 supporting Obama, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Rep. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who is running for U.S. Senate. The super PAC is funded by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and Environment America. It also in-kind from its non-disclosing sister nonprofit, Fair Share Alliance and has received nearly a half-million from millionaire software entrepreneur Tim Gill and his LGBT advocacy group, Gill Action Fund.
Conservative nonprofit Americans for Job Security reported spending $2.5 million opposing Obama.
The conservative Now or Never super PAC reported spending $1.8 million supporting Rep. Todd Akin, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri, and opposing Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota and Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin.
Crossroads GPS, a conservative nonprofit, reported spending $1.6 million supporting Romney and opposing Heitkamp and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in the state. It released “Walk Away,” a Spanish-language ad opposing Obama.
Its sister super PAC American Crossroads released “Debate” and “China” opposing Obama.
Independence USA PAC, the bipartisan super PAC of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, reported spending $1.3 million supporting Connecticut state Sen. Andrew Roraback, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in the state’s 5th District, as well as in support of Rep. Bob Dold, R-Ill. It also paid for direct mail ads opposing Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., and Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif.
Pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future reported spending $1 million on ads opposing Obama and supporting Romney.
Ending Spending, a conservative nonprofit funded and run by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, released “Past Due” opposing Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., who is running for U.S. Senate. Its sister super PAC, Ending Spending Action Fund, reported spending $920,000.
Let Freedom Ring and the Hispanic Leadership Fund co-produced “Eduardo” in opposition to Obama. Let Freedom Ring also released “Things Have Been Looking Up.”

Daily Disclosure: Bloomberg’s super PAC backs candidates in both parties

2012-11-01T15:19:52-04:00

A super PAC founded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg reported spending $4.9 million on both Republicans and Democrats in Florida, Illinois and California, according to Federal Election Commission records filed Wednesday.

Independence USA PAC was formed Oct. 18, and voters won't know who its donors are until after the election. The group has spent $6 million so far this election.

The super PAC spent $2.5 million supporting the U.S. House run of California state Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod, a Democrat; $1.8 million supporting the House run of former Orlando Chief of Police Val Demings, a Democrat; and $909,000 supporting Rep. Bob Dold, R-Ill., among other candidates.

The billionaire media mogul, now an independent, was a lifelong Democrat who switched to the GOP when he first ran for mayor.

He has pledged his super PAC will spend between $10 million and $15 million supporting state, local and congressional candidates who value bipartisanship and Bloomberg’s agenda, which includes supporting same-sex marriage, an overhaul of public schools, and his signature cause, gun control.

While Independence USA hasn't reported its donors, records show that a politically active nonprofit, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, is primarily supported by the mayor.

While Bloomberg has become increasingly involved in national politics this election, he had repeatedly declined to discuss the presidential election. He has expressed disappointment with both candidates. Today, he endorsed President Barack Obama.

The super PAC is run by Howard Wolfson, Bloomberg’s deputy mayor, who is taking a leave of absence from City Hall until the election.

In other outside spending news:

Restore Our Future, the super PAC supporting GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, reported spending $12.1 million opposing President Barack Obama.
Priorities USA, the super PAC supporting Obama, reported spending $10.6 million opposing Romney. It released “Connect the Dots,” which opposes Romney and Gov. Rick Scott of Florida.
American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC, reported spending $7.6 million opposing Obama and the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Indiana and Nebraska. It released “Four Years,” which opposes Rep. Joe Donnelly, the Democratic candidate in Indiana, and “Consequences,” which opposes former Sen. Bob Kerrey, running for his former seat in Nebraska.
Its sister nonprofit Crossroads GPS released “No Clue” opposing Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., who is running for U.S. Senate in the state.
House Majority PAC, a super PAC backing House Democrats, reported spending $4.2 million opposing Republican candidates for U.S. House in numerous races. It released “Little Bit” opposing Saratoga Springs, Utah, Mayor Mia Love, the Republican candidate for House in the state’s 4th District.
Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Senate Democrats, reported spending $3.3 million. It released “Made Of” opposing Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in the state, and “The Difference,” opposing Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who is running for U.S. Senate.
American Future Fund, a conservative nonprofit that reported spending $2.4 million on Wednesday, released “Listening” in support of Jonathan Paton, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Arizona’s 1st District. A half-million dollars of that expenditure paid for the Paton ad; the rest supported Romney.
Americans for Tax Reform, a nonprofit run by conservative activist Grover Norquist, released six ads opposing Democrats running for U.S. House:
“Never Ending Spending” opposes Rep. Mark Critz in Pennsylvania’s 12 District;
“Tax Raising Politicians” opposes Rep. Charlie Wilson in Ohio’s 6th District;
“Typical Selfish Politician” opposes Port of San Diego Commissioner Scott Peters, running in California’s 52nd District;
“Safe” opposes Rep. John Barrow in Georgia’s 12th District;
“Skyrocket” opposes Rep. Ben Chandler in Kentucky’s 6th District;
“Wrong Prescription” opposes former Illinois National Guard Commander Bill Enyart in Illinois’ 12th District.

Daily Disclosure: Super PACs aim to spook voters with Halloween ads

2012-10-31T09:51:43-04:00

Outside spenders are getting in the holiday spirit with Halloween-themed ads designed to scare voters away from the targeted candidates.

A foggy cemetery, a haunted house and shadowy figures loom in House Majority PAC’s ad, as the narrator speaks in a quivering voice pretending to be a ghost, explaining why voters should be afraid of Rep. Francisco “Quico” Canseco, the Republican candidate running in Texas’ 23rd District.

The narrator suddenly cuts the ghost voice and says, “This isn’t a Halloween story, though it is scary. It’s Quico Canseco’s — a person and a story that fits right into Washington.”

One of the ads main claims — that Canseco owes hundreds of thousands in liens over unpaid payroll taxes and contracting fees — was reported by the San Antonio Express-News in July 2010.

Canseco disputes the claim. He said the bulk of what is owed is a result of disagreements between contractors and tenants on properties he owns and that he was only named because he is the landlord.

Canseco faces Democratic challenger Pete Gallego, a Texas state representative. House Majority PAC’s Halloween ad is part of a $415,000 buy in Texas’ 23rd District, a Republican-leaning swing district.

The race has seen $6.6 million in outside spending, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Conservative spenders are also using the holiday to their advantage.

“Kathy Hochul promised us lots of treats…But Hochul tricked us!” says the childlike narrator of the Congressional Leadership Fund’s new ad opposing the Democratic congresswoman in New York’s 27th District.

The animated “Trick or Treat,” which shows children in costumes, ghosts gliding by and bats flapping across the screen, says “Hochul treated herself – personally profiting from companies that outsource and do business with China.”

The claim is supposedly based on Hochul’s personal investments in companies that manufacture products in China; however, an accusation first made by the conservative news outlet, Washington Free Beacon.

Hochul has also criticized her Republican challenger, businessman Chris Collins, for benefitting from outsourcing, though the Buffalo News has called those claims misleading.

The trick-or-treat ad, airing in Buffalo and Rochester, cost $900,000, according to a press release. New York’s 27th District has seen more than $5 million in outside spending, according to CRP.

First-term incumbent Hochul is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats, according to The New York Times.

In other outside spending news:

Conservative super PAC American Crossroads reported spending $14.1 million on ads opposing President Barack Obama and Democrats in U.S. Senate and House races. It also released two new ads: “Silent” opposes Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. “No Slate” opposes Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who is running for U.S. Senate.

Its sister nonprofit Crossroads GPS reported spending $5.1 million and released a handful of new ads opposing Democrats:

“Blew It” opposes former Maine Gov. Angus King, the independent candidate for U.S. Senate in the state;
“Dictionary” opposes Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who is running for U.S. Senate in the state;
“Roadblock” opposes former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in the state;
“Down” opposes Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio;
“MeadWestvaco” and “Both” oppose former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in the state;
“Mesa de cocina” opposes Obama.

House Majority PAC also released:

“Insider” opposing Rodney Davis, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Illinois’ 13th District;
“Representing You” opposing Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif.;
“Extreme” opposing Jackie Walorski, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Indiana’s 2nd District
“Dine” opposing Georgia state Rep. Lee Anderson, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Georgia’s 12th District;
“Who We Are” opposing Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn.
“About Women” opposing Vernon Parker, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Arizona’s 9th District;
“Why” opposing Jonathan Paton, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Arizona’s 1st District;
“Play by the Rules” opposing Quico Canseco (co-released with LCV Victory Fund, affiliated with the League of Conservation Voters);
“Dream” supports Pete Gallego, Canseco’s Democratic challenger in Texas’ 23rd District.

Congressional Leadership Fund also released ads opposing Democratic candidates for U.S. House in four races:

“Join Me’” opposes Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga.;
“Duck Hunt” opposes Gallego in Texas’ 23rd District;
“Swept” opposes Rep. Gary McDowell, D-Mich;
“Leech” opposes former Arizona state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the Democratic candidate in Arizona’s 9th District.

Conservative nonprofit Americans for Tax Reform released four new ads opposing Democrats:

“Control” opposes former Rep. Charlie Wilson, running in Ohio’s 6th District;
“Wrong Prescription for New York” and “Shocking” oppose Rep. Bill Owens, D-N.Y.;
“Napkin” opposes Colorado state Rep. Sal Pace, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Colorado’s 3rd District.

Daily Disclosure: Tennessee congressman targeted in ads over alleged affair

2012-10-30T10:57:26-04:00

Republican Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee was hit for the second time in as many weeks over an alleged affair he had with a patient, whom he reportedly pressured to have an abortion.

The second ad from the Democratic House Majority PAC, brings the super PAC’s buys in the race to $280,000, according to a press release.

The new ad, “Quotes,” features the narrator quoting from the Chattanooga Times Free Press’ endorsement of his Democratic opponent, Tennessee state Sen. Eric Stewart.

“DesJarlais is not only a hypocrite, but a fraud,” the editorial reads, citing that he claims to be an anti-abortion advocate yet allegedly encouraged his pregnant mistress a decade ago to undergo the procedure.

So far, House Majority PAC is the only outside spender in this race to invest significant funds. “Trust,” House Majority PAC’s first ad opposing DesJarlais, debuted Oct. 19 and cost $100,000, according to a press release.

The super PAC’s top donor is Newsweb CEO Fred Eychaner who has contributed $3.8 million. Eychaner has given $12 million to Democratic super PACs.

Meanwhile, the the same newspaper reported that the congressman had a second affair. Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Chip Forrester called for the congressman to step down, according to the Free Press. DesJarlais' campaign called the attacks a "smear campaign" and a distraction from the issues.

In other outside spending news:

House Majority PAC released four other ads:

“Everywhere” and “Four Dollars” oppose Rep. Allen West, R-Fla.;
“Right Choice” supports John Ewing, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Nebraska’s 2nd District;
“Believe” opposes businessman Chris Collins, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in New York’s 27th District.

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the politically active nonprofit arm of the National Rifle Association, released an ad supporting former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in the state, and an ad supporting Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who is running for U.S. Senate. It reported spending $350,000 on ads.

American Unity PAC, a conservative super PAC, released “Home,” which supports Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-N.Y., “Clear Choice,” which supports Rep. Judy Biggert, R-Ill., and “Deserve Better,” which supports Richard Tisei, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Massachusetts’ 6th District.

Conservative nonprofits Let Freedom Ring and Independent Women’s Voices released two pro-Mitt Romney ads, “Feeling Guilty” and “Mr. Dependable.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported spending $7.5 million on numerous House races.

The League of Conservation Voters released “Winners and Losers” with Majority PAC in opposition to former Sen. George Allen, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Virginia. LCV also released “Romney Opposes Wind Energy Tax Credit.”

Daily Disclosure: Congressman gets help from Chevron-powered super PAC

2012-10-29T11:11:09-04:00

After Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, cancelled more than $800,000 in network television advertising last week, the conservative Congressional Leadership Fund super PAC stepped in to fill the void.

Renacci, a Republican just finishing his freshman term, faces Rep. Betty Sutton, a three-term Democrat, in Ohio’s newly redrawn 16th District, which has attracted more outside spending than any other House race, according to the Center for Responsive Politics — more than $8.8 million.

Chevron Corp., ranked No. 3 on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. companies, made a $2.5 million contribution on Oct. 7 to the Leadership Fund, which is dedicated to electing Republicans to the House and Senate, as The Center for Public Integrity reported last week.

Renacci said the market had reached saturation and people were simply tuning out the ads. The New York Times reported that next to Las Vegas, the Cleveland area has seen more political ads than any other market.

This weekend’s “Hall of Fame,” the Leadership Fund’s newest anti-Sutton ad, is the second in a $1.8 million buy, according to a press release.

The narrator calls the congresswoman “hall of fame tax-and-spender Betty Sutton,” and it details her support for the stimulus, cap-and-trade legislation to control carbon emissions and the Wall Street bank bailout.

The first ad in the October campaign, “Busy Betty,” premiered last week. It comes after the super PAC spent more than $1 million against Sutton in September, when the Leadership Fund first began airing ads in the district.

The group has reported spending $2.4 million on the race to date, Federal Election Commission records show.

House Majority PAC, one of the top Democratic outside spenders active in the race, has also spent about $2.4 million since September, when it first started airing ads in the district, FEC records show.

Last week, House Majority PAC released “Cloud” opposing Renacci. The ad is running for one week in the Cleveland market and cost $730,000, according to a press release.

“Cloud” hits Renacci for trying to “avoid paying taxes on nearly $14 million.” This claim has been made in anti-Renacci ads from Sutton herself, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The statement is true, according to PolitiFact – Renacci and his wife underreported their income in 2000 by $13.6 million, as the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Oct. 19, and the couple is still disputing the penalty.

The Renacci campaign is continuing to run ads on cable channels, though to a lesser extent, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.

In other outside spending news:

The Congressional Leadership Fund reported spending $2.6 million over the weekend and also released three other ads:

“Trick or Treat” opposes Rep. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y.;
“Imagine” opposes former Wisconsin Sen. Pat Kreitlow, the Democrat running for U.S. House in Wisconsin’s 7th District;
“Twinkle” and the Spanish version “Estrellita” oppose Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif.

American Action Network, a conservative nonprofit, reported spending $4.4 million and released four news ads:

“Pumping Iron” and “Levantando pesas” oppose Nevada Assemblyman John Oceguera, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in the state’s 3rd District.
“Mad Science” opposes physician David Gill, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Illinois’ 13th District.
“Standing” opposes former Rep. Rick Nolan, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th District.

Conservative super PAC Ending Spending Action Fund reported spending $2.6 million and released four new ads:

“Wrong” opposes former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona.
“Energy Virginia” opposes President Barack Obama and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who is running for U.S. Senate.
“Distorting” opposes Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., and supports his challenger, Nebraska state Sen. Deb Fischer, a Republican.
“Energy Ohio” opposes Obama and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

House Majority PAC reported spending $1.9 million and released three new ads:

“Game” opposes Connecticut state Sen. Andrew Roraback, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in the state’s 5th District.
“Our Time” opposes Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa.
“Today” supports former Florida state Sen. Al Laswon, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Florida’s 2nd District.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported spending $3 million and released two new ads: “What’s Tim Kaine’s Plan for Virginia?” opposing the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in the state, and “A Serious Threat to Jobs” opposing Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who is running for U.S. Senate.

Conservative nonprofit American Future Fund released “Hands” and “Real Solutions” supporting Mitt Romney and his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. It reported spending $2.7 million over the weekend.

The National Republican Congressional Committee reported spending $6.6 million on ads opposing Democrats and supporting Republicans.

Daily Disclosure: Chevron gives $2.5 million to conservative super PAC

2012-10-26T12:11:22-04:00

The dearth of large contributions being made by big corporations to super PACs so far this election has ended.

Chevron Corp., ranked No. 3 on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. companies, made a $2.5 million contribution on Oct. 7 to the conservative Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC dedicated to electing Republicans to the House and Senate.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, which allowed corporate money to be spent on elections, there were predictions that companies would tap their treasuries and flood races with unlimited cash.

Instead, the bulk of the giving has come from individuals — like casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Adelson and wife Miriam gave at least $14.5 million in the first 17 days of October, boosting his total giving to the controversial political organizations to a remarkable $53 million. It would take 10,600 contributions of $5,000, the maxiumum allowed to candidates, for Adleson to reach that amount were he giving directly to campaigns.

Super PACs filed their final reports before the Nov. 6 election on Thursday with the Federal Election Commission. Adelson is far and away the biggest donor to the organizations this election cycle.

Chevron, the No. 2 oil and gas company in the U.S. with 2011 revenue of nearly a quarter-trillion dollars, is active in nearly every aspect of the energy business, including the highly controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” a means of extracting natural gas from shale deposits.

The company spent $9.5 million lobbying the federal government in 2011 and $5.3 million so far this year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Chevron becomes at least the fifth Fortune 500 company to give to super PACs this election, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis of corporate giving, and by far, the largest. Others include Florida-based Fidelity National Information Services (425th), which gave the pro-Mitt Romney super PAC Restore Our Future $75,000; CONSOL Energy (399th), which donated $150,000 to the group; Alpha Natural Resources (356th), which gave $100,000 to American Crossroads; and Caesars Entertainment Corp. (288th), which gave $150,000 to Majority PAC.

Chevron’s donation to the Congressional Leadership Fund represented the bulk of the group’s receipts for the reporting period. The super PAC took in $3.1 million through the first part of October, entering the home stretch with $8.7 million in the bank.

The Adelsons gave $10 million to Restore Our Future over the reporting period, bringing the organization’s receipts to a whopping $20.2 million, more than it raised for the entire month of September.

Restore Our Future also benefitted from $1 million from Jerry Perenchio, former owner of Spanish-language broadcast company Univision; $1 million from super donor Harold Simmons; $1 million from real estate mogul Edward St. John; and $1 million from hedge fund pioneer Julian Robertson.

Restore Our Future’s fundraising easily eclipsed that of Priorities USA Action, the super PAC supporting President Barack Obama, which brought in $13 million. The pro-Obama group had outraised Restore Our Future for the past two months.

Priorities received seven $1 million contributions all from individual donors. They include Mark Pincus, the CEO of Zynga, the online game maker, hedge fund billionaire George Soros* and LinkedIn founder Reid Garrett Hoffman.

Restore reported $24.2 million in cash going into the home stretch while Priorities had $10.1 million, according to FEC records.

In the final months of campaign, more super PACs dedicated to the election of U.S. House and Senate candidates have emerged.

Treasure Coast Jobs Coalition, a super PAC supporting Republican Rep. Allen West in Florida’s 18th District, received $1 million from the Adelsons. So did Freedom PAC, which supports Rep. Connie Mack’s quest for U.S. Senate in Florida.

Adelson is also helping former Virginia Gov. and Sen. George Allen in the state. Allen lost a close race to Sen. Jim Webb, the Democrat, in 2006, who is not running for re-election. He faces former Gov. Tim Kaine in a close race for the Senate seat.

Adelson gave $1.5 million to Independence Virginia, which is supporting Allen. The couple also gave $1 million to Joe Ricketts’ Ending Spending Action Fund, a super PAC that supports fiscally conservative candidates.

Ending Spending, which has promised to spend at least $12 million in the weeks leading up to the election, reported $4 million in cash on hand. While it has only raised $1 million so far in October, its founder Ricketts gave more than $11 million to the super PAC in September.

American Crossroads, the conservative super PAC co-founded by Republican strategist Karl Rove, brought in $11.7 million in the first part of October, thanks largely to a $4 million contribution from super donor Simmons and $1 million each from Texas homebuilder Bob Perry and oil man and hedge fund chief T. Boone Pickens, another Texan.

American Crossroads had $6.4 million in the bank as of Oct. 17.

Democratic donors also kept their checkbooks open in October. Fred Eychaner, the CEO of Newsweb Corp., gave $2 million to House Majority PAC, which supports Democratic U.S. House candidates, and $2 million to Majority PAC, which supports Senate Democrats.

Majority PAC took in $9.9 million, including a $1 million contribution from Tennessee real estate mogul Franklin Haney and $900,000 from Arnold Hiatt, the former president of the Stride Rite footwear company.

It reported $7.5 million cash on hand as of Oct. 17.

Hiatt also gave $900,000 to House Majority PAC, which raised $6.7 million and had $5.2 million on hand as of Oct. 17.

In other outside spending news:

The Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee reported spending $8.5 million opposing Republican candidates for U.S. Senate.
The Republican National Committee reported spending $5.2 million opposing Obama, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee reported spending $7.8 million opposing Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate.
Conservative nonprofit Crossroads GPS reported spending $3.7 million opposing Obama and Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate and House in several races.
Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Senate Democrats, reported spending $3.1 million opposing Republican candidates in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Montana, Indiana, Nevada, Virginia and New Jersey.
House Majority PAC reported spending $2.3 million opposing Republicans in numerous races. The super PAC released three news ads: “False Start” opposes Richard Tisei, the Republican candidate in Massachusetts’ 6th District; “Person” opposing Randy Altschuler, the Republican candidate in New York’s 1st District, and “Our Choice,” supporting Bill Enyart, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Illinois’ 12th District.
Women Vote!, a pro-abortion rights super PAC, reported spending $1 million opposing Republican House and Senate candidates.
Ending Spending Action Fund reported spending $1 million opposing Obama, former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey in Nebraska, who is running to get his old job back, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. The spending also supported Romney and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, Brown’s Republican challenger.
American Action Network, a conservative nonprofit, released “Rail” opposing Democratic House candidate Jose Hernandez in California’s 10th District, and “Spending” opposing former Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire’s 1st District.
American Unity PAC, a conservative super PAC, released “Putting People Ahead of Politics,” supporting Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., and “Politics Aside,” supporting Andrew Roraback in Connecticut’s 5th District and former wrestling executive Linda McMahon for U.S. Senate in Connecticut.
The 60 Plus Association, a conservative nonprofit, released “Strengthen,” starring Pat Boone and opposing Obama.
American Future Fund, a conservative nonprofit, released four new ads: “Reno Gazette-Journal Endorsement” and “Orlando Sentinel Endorsement” oppose Obama, “Paper” opposes Rep. Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin; and “Raises” opposes Democratic California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, running for U.S. House in the state’s 26th District.

Michael Beckel contributed to this report.

*George Soros is the chairman of Open Society Foundation, which provides financial support to the Center for Public Integrity. For a list of the Center’s donors, visit the website.

Daily Disclosure: Adelson spends big on Virginia U.S. Senate race

2012-10-25T13:57:35-04:00

Big outside money is pouring into the race for U.S. Senate in Virginia, and for one super PAC, “outside” means from across the country.

Independence Virginia, a super PAC supporting former U.S. Senator and Gov. George Allen, the Republican candidate, reported Wednesday spending $1.5 million on ads opposing the Democratic candidate, former Gov. Tim Kaine.

Two weeks ago, casino magnate and super donor Sheldon Adelson, who lives in Las Vegas, gave Independence Virginia $1.5 million, according to the super PAC’s most recent donor disclosure report to the Federal Election Commission.

Adelson and has family have topped $40 million in giving to conservative super PACs this election, making them No. 1.

But Adelson’s Las Vegas money isn’t the only contribution to have traveled a long way to Virginia. Texas homebuilder Bob Perry, another top super PAC donor, gave $1 million to Independence Virginia in August and September, which was just disclosed last week.

Perry, who has given $20.5 million to conservative super PACs this election, is the third-biggest super PAC donor.

Wyoming investor Foster Friess, another prolific donor gave the group $10,000.

Independence Virginia has spent $3.9 million this election, entirely on anti-Kaine ads.

The race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jim Webb has attracted more money than any other outside spending race, according to the Center for Responsive Politics — $33 million, not counting Wednesday’s Independence Virginia ad buys.

The conservative nonprofit Crossroads GPS has reported spending $8 million backing Allen, making it the top outside spender in the race. Majority PAC, a super PAC supporting Senate Democrats, is in second place with $5 million, according to CRP.

In other outside spending news:

Pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future reported spending $18.3 million on ads supporting Romney and opposing Obama. The Daily Disclosure reported on the ads, “Genuinely Cares” and “Better” Wednesday.
Conservative super PAC American Crossroads reported spending $11.3 million on ads supporting Romney and opposing Obama. It released three anti-Obama ads: “Bow,” “At Stake” and “Survive.” “At Stake” stars actor Clint Eastwood, who famously talked to an empty chair at the Republican National Convention.
Its sister nonprofit Crossroads GPS reported spending $3.3 million on pro-Romney/anti-Obama ads and an additional $1.1 million on ads opposing Rep. Joe Donnelly, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Indiana.
The conservative nonprofit Americans for Job Security reported spending $2.5 million opposing Obama.
Pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action reported spending $4 million opposing Romney.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reported spending $9.4 million opposing Republican candidates for U.S. House.
The conservative nonprofit American Action Network reported spending $925,000 opposing Democrats in three U.S. House races. A full $628,000 was dedicated to ads opposing former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez, the Democratic candidate in California’s 10th District.
Majority PAC, a super PAC supporting Senate Democrats, reported spending $3 million opposing Republican candidates in Virginia, North Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin.
House Majority PAC, a super PAC backing House Democrats, reported spending $2.6 million opposing Republicans in numerous House races. It released “About Values,” opposing Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., on Wednesday.
Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative nonprofit, released “Wrong Prescription for Florida,” which opposes Al Lawson, the Democratic candidate running for U.S. House against Southerland in Florida’s 2nd District.
Planned Parenthood Votes released an ad opposing Rep. Denny Rehberg, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana.
“We Stand for Coal” from the conservative nonprofit Americans for Prosperity opposes Obama.
Patriot Majority PAC, a liberal political action committee affiliated with the nonprofit Patriot Majority USA, released “Romney is Bain.”
FreedomWorks for America, a conservative nonprofit, released 11 news ads: seven oppose Obama and Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Arizona, and four support the Republican candidates in several of those races.
Conservative super PAC Let Freedom Ring USA, which released eight ads Wednesday, put out another four: “Stand Up for Your Faith” (with the Pennsylvania Catholics Network), “Mother Teresa,” “Persecuting” and “You Didn’t Build That.”

Daily Disclosure: Mitt Romney 'genuinely cares'

2012-10-24T10:24:57-04:00

Mitt Romney hasn't talked much about his charitable work in public, and with outside spending focused on attack ads, even Republicans have been concerned that the GOP presidential nominee appears too aloof.

Two new ads from outside spenders are hoping to change that. “Genuinely Cares” from the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future and “Mitt and David” from the conservative nonprofit Crossroads GPS tell the stories of two individuals who received support from Romney.

They are a sharp departure from both groups’ standard attack ads. Restore Our Future has spent a little more than $99 million thus far this election, with 86 percent going toward negative advertising and other campaign materials.

“Genuinely Cares” features Army National Guard Sgt. Peter Damon, an Iraq War veteran, telling about how Gov. Romney took an interest in him when they met while Damon was recovering from an accident in the Army’s Walter Reed Medical Center that left him a double amputee.

Damon discusses Romney’s work with a charity called Homes for Troops that builds houses for seriously wounded veterans. Damon says he received one of the homes.

"The Mitt Romney I know cares deeply about people who are struggling," Damon tells the camera. "Mitt Romney helped make a huge difference in my life."

The ad, along with the anti-Obama “Better” are part of a $17.7 million ad blitz in 10 swing states.

“Mitt and David” recalls a story first told at the Republican National Convention about Romney’s relationship with the Oparowski family, who knew him from church. Their 14-year-old son David was terminally ill with Hodgkin’s disease, and Romney visited him regularly.

Romney helped the boy write his will and establish his last wishes, such as being buried in his Boy Scout uniform.

“To spend time with a 14-year-old boy in his last days — you cannot help but know that he is caring,” Pat Oparowski says. “He cares about people and their needs. I think he’s going to be able to get us back on track.”

Restore Our Future had $16.6 million in the bank at the end of September. Crossroads GPS has reported spending $21 million but millions more has gone toward unreported “issue advertising.”

In other outside spending news:

In addition to “Mitt and David,” Crossroads GPS released a spate of new ads, totaling $4.9 million:

“Biggest Votes” opposes Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., who is running for U.S. Senate;
“Tilting” opposes former Maine Gov. Angus King, an independent running for U.S. Senate;
“Favorite” opposes Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who is running for U.S. Senate;
“Simple” opposes former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp and supports Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., who are competing for a U.S. Senate seat;
“Dragging” opposes Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio;
“Ideas” opposes former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in the state;
“Taxing Tammy” opposes Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who is running for U.S. Senate.

House Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Democratic U.S. House candidates, released seven ads opposing Republican candidates in U.S. House races:

“Opportunity” opposes Georgia state Rep. Lee Anderson in Georgia’s 12th District;
“Forgotten” opposes Rep. Mary Bono Mack in California’s 36th District;
“Board” opposes attorney Keith Rothfus in Pennsylvania’s 12th District;
“Cloud” opposes Rep. Jim Renacci in Ohio’s 16th District;
“How Much?” opposes Rep. Brian Bilbray in California’s 52nd District;
“Color” opposes Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle in New York’s 24th District;
“Halloween” opposes Rep. Quico Canseco in Texas’ 23rd District.

Majority PAC, super PAC supporting Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, released ads in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Indiana and Montana:

“Education” supports Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and opposes businessman Tom Smith, his Republican challenger;
“Nine Times” opposes Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev.;
“Inflict” opposes Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock;
“Issues” opposes Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D.

American Crossroads, a conservative super PAC, released thee ads opposing Democrats:

“Down the Road” opposes Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and cost $804,000;
“Add Up” opposes Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who is running for U.S. Senate. It cost $1.3 million;
“Not Optimal” opposes Obama, which cost $560,000.

SEIU COPE, the political action committee of the Service Employees International Union released:

“Chance” opposing Chris Collins, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in New York’s 27th District;
“Luchando por Nuestro Futuro” and “Luchando Por Nuestra Comunidad” support Obama;
“Putting Politics before Our Families,” another Spanish-language ad, opposes Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev.;
“Education” supports Kaine and opposes George Allen, the Republican, in Virginia’s race for U.S. Senate.
AFSCME PEOPLE, the political action committee of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees released “Chances” opposing Chris Collins, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in New York’s 27th District, “Nice” opposing Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and “Education” supporting former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine’s bid for U.S. Senate. AFSCME also paid for the radio ad “Contrast,” which opposes Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn.
Conservative nonprofit Let Freedom Ring USA released eight ads opposing Obama: “1967 Borders,” “Contiguous Palestine,” “Fining Charities,” “Gas Prices,” “Medicaid,” “Missing Workers,” “Reform Promises” and “Washington Culture.”
Conservative nonprofit American Future Fund opposes Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate and Obama in “Hoosier.” It reported spending $508,000 on a handful of ads.
Sierra Club Independent Action opposes Rep. Quico Canseco, R-Texas, and supports his Democratic challenger Pete Gallego in “La Mascara.”
Conservative nonprofit American Commitment released “Moment” supporting Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.
The conservative nonprofit Americans for Job Security released “Healthcare Machine” opposing Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who is running for U.S. Senate.
Pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action released “Same Promises” opposing Romney.
The conservative nonprofit American Action Network released “Again” opposing former Rep. Rick Nolan, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Minnesota’s 8th District.
Conservative nonprofit Americans for Tax Reform reported spending $3.6 million opposing Democrats running for Congress.
The Hardworking Americans Committee, a super PAC established at the end of September, reported its first independent expenditure — $1 million opposing Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., who is being challenged by former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich.

Daily Disclosure: Bauer-backed super PAC assails president

2012-10-23T10:05:31-04:00

President Barack Obama has the dictator vote, at least according to a super PAC run by evangelical leader Gary Bauer.

Hours before Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney began a debate on foreign policy, Bauer’s super PAC released an ad with quotes from Cuba’s Fidel Castro, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, expressing their admiration for the president.

“Obama secured the dictator vote,” the narrator says. “Does he have yours?”

Bauer’s Campaign for American Values PAC has spent more than a half-million dollars on ads supporting Romney and opposing Obama.

An August ad said Obama is “forcing gay marriage on the country.” Another accused the president of “bowing to Islam.” And a third asked, “Why was God booed by Obama’s delegates” at the Democratic National Convention?

Bauer, a former adviser to the Reagan administration, is also president of American Values, a nonprofit, and president of Campaign for Working Families, a political action committee. All oppose abortion and gay marriage.

The Campaign for American Values PAC has received $892,000 in contributions this election cycle. A full $600,000 has come from an obscure corporation called Corporate Land Management.

Mother Jones identified Tim Horner, the president of the jewelry company Premier Designs Inc., as the man behind it. Premier Designs’ mission includes advocating for Christian causes, like creating opportunity for “mothers to be able to stay home more with their children,” according to its website.

Bauer is also the former president of the conservative Christian group, Family Research Council, and the former vice president of Focus on the Family, which runs a politically active nonprofit called CitizenLink that has spent $1.8 million on socially conservative candidates for U.S. Senate.

Bauer considers himself “unapologetically pro-family [and] pro-life” and a “staunch supporter of President Bush’s war on terrorism.” He ran for president in 2000 before dropping out and endorsing Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

He is also on the board of the hawkish Emergency Committee for Israel, founded by neoconservative Bill Kristol, founder and editor of the Weekly Standard. The committee has spent almost $800,000 opposing Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

In other outside spending news:

SEIU PEA-Federal, the super PAC of the Service Employees International Union, reported spending $3.9 million on ads in the presidential, U.S. House and U.S. Senate races.
Conservative nonprofit Crossroads GPS reported spending $389,000 on ads opposing Cheri Bustos, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Illinois’ 17th District. The alderwoman faces Republican Rep. Bobby Schilling in one of the most expensive House races for outside spenders in the country.
YG Network, a conservative nonprofit, reported spending $343,000 on “Pennsylvania Values,” an ad opposing Rep. Mark Critz, D-Pa. Critz faces Republican Keith Rothfus, an attorney.
Club for Growth Action, a conservative super PAC, also weighed in on the Critz-Rothfus matchup with “Views.”
The NFIB, the Voice of Free Enterprise Inc., a nonprofit affiliated with the National Federation of Independent Businesses, reported spending $1 million supporting Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel in his bid for U.S. Senate.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee reported spending $4.2 million opposing Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Nevada, North Dakota, Montana, Indiana, Virginia, Wisconsin and Arizona.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a conservative super PAC affiliated with the American Action Network, released “Out of Touch,” opposing Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, and “Cherry Hill Tax,” opposing Democrat Shelley Adler, who is running for U.S. House in New Jersey’s 3rd District. Adler is an attorney and the wife of the late Rep. John Adler, D-N.J.
“Day One,” from House Majority PAC, a super PAC supporting House Democrats, opposes businessman Chris Collins, the Republican running for U.S. House in New York’s 27th District against Democratic Rep. Kathy Hochul.
American Future Fund, a conservative nonprofit, released “Responsibility,” criticizing Obama for the way his administration handled security at the U.S. embassy in Libya.
“Destroy” from the nonprofit Center Forward, formerly the Blue Dog Democrats, opposes attorney Andy Barr, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Kentucky’s 6th District.

Daily Disclosure: Pro-Obama super PAC outpaces GOP counterpart

2012-10-22T10:38:44-04:00

Restore Our Future, a super PAC supporting Mitt Romney’s candidacy, doubled its fundraising total in September taking in $14.8 million, but was still outraised by the pro-President Barack Obama Priorities USA Action, which raised $15.3 million for the month.

The totals show a reversal of a trend — Republicans to date have fared better at raising money for outside groups, though Romney still has American Crossroads, a well-funded super PAC, and Crossroads GPS, a nonprofit, in his corner.

Restore Our Future brought in $7 million in August.

Most of the major super PACs had until Saturday at midnight to file monthly reports with the Federal Election Commission on September’s fundraising activities.

Meanwhile, J. Joe Ricketts, whose conservative Ending Spending Action Fund super PAC said it would launch a $12 million ad campaign this fall, gave a whopping $11.5 million to the group. Ricketts, the founder of TD Ameritrade, was the only donor to the PAC, which finished the month with $5.9 million in the bank.

Anti-Obama "Ending Spending" ads have just recently begun airing. Of the $12 million, $10 million will be directed toward helping Romney, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal last month.

Texas homebuilder Bob Perry, who shows no signs of closing his checkbook, gave $3.5 million to super PACs in September, including $2 million more to Restore Our Future. The donation brings his total giving to more than $10 million to the super PAC. Fellow Texan Harold Simmons, another top super PAC donor, came through with $500,000 to the pro-Romney super PAC.

Restore Our Future finished September with $16.6 million cash on hand, far more than Priorities USA Action, with $7.3 million.

Priorities USA brought in $15.3 million in September, a $5.2 million increase from its August earnings.

Among its largest donations for the month:

$2 million from super donor Fred Eychaner of Newsweb Corp.;
$1.5 million from super donor James Simons of the hedge fund Renaissance Technologies;
$1.2 million from Slim-Fast founder S. Daniel Abraham;
$1 million from Hollywood director Steven Spielberg;
$1 million from Dreamworks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg;
$1 million from the United Auto Workers Education Fund;
$1 million from Donald and Shelley Rubin of health insurer MultiPlan Inc.

Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Democrats for the U.S. Senate, received contributions from many of the same donors. Simons gave $1.5 million; Eychaner gave $1 million; the UAW Education Fund gave $700,000. Working for Working Americans, a public sector union-affiliated committee, gave $1 million.

Majority PAC took in four times as much in September as it did in August, with a monthly haul of $10.4 million. It finished September with $6.9 million cash on hand.

Eychaner and Simons also gave big to House Majority PAC, which supports Democrats running for U.S. House. Eychaner came through with $1 million and Simons with $500,000. The American Postal Workers Union also gave a half-million.

House Majority PAC took in $5.8 million total in September, finishing the month with $5.7 million on hand.

American Crossroads, the conservative super PAC co-founded by Republican strategists Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, took in $11.7 million in September, an increase from its August take of $9.4 million.

Super donor Simmons came through with $2.5 million, followed by the JWC III Revocable Trust with $1.25 million. It was not immediately clear who controls the JWC III Revocable Trust.

Jay Bergman of Petco Petroleum Corp. gave $1 million. The Armstrong Group, a telecommunications firm, provided $1.3 million in in-kind contributions in the form of “cable access.”

Club for Growth Action, a conservative, free-market super PAC, received $2 million in contributions, a leap from August’s $589,000. Homebuilder Perry was a top donor in September, giving $1 million. The super PAC finished the month with $2.6 million on hand.

The conservative super PAC FreedomWorks for America, led by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, took in $3.2 million in September, more than three times what it received in August. The contributions were almost exclusively in small amounts, with the exception of $143,000 in in-kind contributions from the super PAC’s non-disclosing sister nonprofit, FreedomWorks Inc.

FreedomWorks for America finished September with $703,000 cash on hand.

In other outside spending news:

Pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action reported spending $1.25 million on anti-Romney ads. The super PAC also released “Sarah,” over the weekend, knocking Romney’s economic policies.
Pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future reported spending $1.4 million on anti-Obama ads.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported spending $5.1 million. Among its spending were three ads: “Working for Washington,” which opposes Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., “It’s Time to Send Him Home,” which opposes Rep. Martin Heinrich, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, and “Linda McMahon Makes Sense for Connecticut,” which supports the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in the state.
The National Republican Congressional Committee reported spending $9.3 million supporting House Republicans and opposing House Democrats.
Club for Growth Action reported spending $2.2 million opposing Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Ohio, Arizona and Indiana. It released “Green,” which opposes Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.
House Majority PAC, a super PAC backing House Democrats, reported spending $1.4 million.
Crossroads GPS, a conservative nonprofit, reported spending $1.1 million on the presidential, House and Senate races.
Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Senate Democrats, reported spending $1.1 million.
The 60 Plus Association, a conservative nonprofit, reported spending $920,000 on ads opposing U.S. Senate and House candidates in Arizona, North Dakota and New York. It released an ad opposing two Democratic candidates for U.S. House in Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema and Ann Kirkpatrick.
The NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the nonprofit arm of the National Rifle Association, reported spending $3.9 million on numerous candidates. It released the ad “One Vote” opposing Obama.
The Congressional Leadership Fund, a conservative super PAC, released Spanish and English versions of “Closer Look,” which opposes Rep. Pete Gallego, R-Texas; “Folks,” which opposes Rep. Mike McIntrye, D-N.C., “I Will,” which opposes Rep. Kathy Hochul, R-N.Y., and “Busy Betty,” which opposes Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Ohio.
Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative nonprofit, released “B” opposing Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., and “Bankrupt” opposing Rep. Ben Chandler, Ky.-6.

Daily Disclosure: Mystery group spends $1 million opposing Obama

2012-10-19T12:43:08-04:00

Less than three weeks before Election Day, a new mystery group dropped nearly $1 million on an anti-Obama expenditure, according to records.

Citizen Awareness Project appears to be a nonprofit organization. It reported the independent expenditure opposing President Barack Obama Thursday, according to a filing with the Federal Election Commission.

The entire sum — $994,000 — was paid to Stephen Clouse & Associates Inc., a Virginia firm that specializes in raising money for its clients via direct mail, according to its website.

The firm has produced marketing materials for the conservative Heritage Foundation and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, both of which count billionaire businessman and financier of conservative causes Charles Koch as a board member.

Citizen Awareness Project has no website that the Center could find and no Internal Revenue Service documents appear to have been posted online. Thursday’s filing was the first reported political expenditure made by the group.

The group is likely a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” nonprofit. Such organizations can function like super PACs but are not required to register with the FEC or disclose their donors. They are required to file reports with the IRS.

The group’s address is the same as Zakhem Law LLC in Denver, Colo., where its treasurer, Charlie Smith, is a law clerk specializing in election law.

Smith is former chairman of the College Republican National Committee and the founder of a lesser-known pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC, Solutions 2012, which raised $67,000. All of its contributions came from small donors.

Stephen Clouse & Associates works to “turn ordinary donors into major contributors,” according to its site, and focuses on getting donors to give “mega gifts” to its client-nonprofits.

Smith did not immediately return a call requesting comment.

In other outside spending news:

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reported spending $7.5 million on ads opposing Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in 12 states.
Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Senate Democrats, reported spending $3.6 million opposing GOP candidates for U.S. Senate in Arizona, North Dakota, Montana, Connecticut, Virginia and Missouri.
Pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action reported spending $3.3 million on ads opposing GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
Americans for Tax Reform, a conservative nonprofit founded by anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist, reported spending $3.1 million on ads opposing Democratic candidates for U.S. House in eight races.
The NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the advocacy nonprofit arm of the National Rifle Association, reported spending $702,000 on ads supporting Republican candidates for U.S. Senate and an additional $753,000 in support of Romney.
House Majority PAC, a super PAC backing House Democrats, reported spending $1.8 million opposing Republicans in seven races. The super PAC also released “Turn” opposing Republican Rep. Allen West, who is running in Florida’s 18th District.
Pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future reported spending $492,000 on ads opposing Obama.
The National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee reported spending $400,000 in favor of Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick, R-Pa. Fitzpatrick is on the government-sponsored entities subcommittee and the oversight and investigations subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee, where he oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The conservative 60 Plus Association released “Washington Insider,” which opposes Rep. Ron Barber, D-Ariz.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released “Four Decades is Long Enough” opposing Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.
Planned Parenthood Votes, a super PAC, released an ad opposing Romney and an ad supporting Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who is running for U.S. Senate.

Daily Disclosure: Koch-funded groups attack Obama for 'war on coal'

2012-10-18T10:06:16-04:00

Secretive nonprofits affiliated with oil and coal companies, including Koch Industries, are hitting Obama hard for what they call his “war on coal.”

Yesterday, for example, the nonprofit American Energy Alliance reported that its new ad “Stand with Coal,” cost more than a half-million dollars and is running for two weeks in the coal-producing states of Ohio and Virginia.

The ad accuses President Barack Obama of wanting to bankrupt the coal industry, alleging that his plan is to “kill affordable energy.”

The American Energy Alliance is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, which means its donors remain unknown to the public. Its president, Thomas Pyle, is the former director of federal affairs for Koch Industries and former lobbyist for the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association. He also served as a policy analyst for Rep. Tom Delay, R-Texas, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

The American Energy Alliance is affiliated with the Institute for Energy Research, a free-market energy nonprofit that has received backing from the Koch-run Claude R. Lambe Foundation. Pyle is also the institute’s president.

Robert Bradley, the CEO of the institute called those who are concerned about global warming “climate alarmists” in an op-ed in The Washington Times.

Dustin DeBerry, the institute’s director of donor relations, once worked for the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. Board member Wayne Gable the a managing director of federal affairs at Koch Industries and has held leadership positions at Koch-funded nonprofits including Americans for Prosperity, Citizens for a Sound Economy and the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.

The Institute for Energy Research has also received funding in the past from ExxonMobil, National Public Radio reported in 2008, as well as other foundations affiliated with energy executives.

American Energy Alliance is not the only group to attack Obama’s energy policies, which include investing in renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, as well as expanding offshore drilling.

American Commitment, a non-disclosing nonprofit led by former Americans for Prosperity staffer Phil Kerpen, is one of the pro-coal leaders this election. It runs WarOnCoal.com and has aired campaign ads urging voters to support coal by voting against Obama and the Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Ohio and Virginia, Sen. Sherrod Brown and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

One American Commitment radio ad accuses Obama and Brown of “betraying coal,” saying their “war on coal is also a war on jobs.”

Americans for Prosperity, which was founded by David Koch, continued its own pro-coal campaign with an Ohio radio ad last week. The group has conducted several pro-coal rallies and targeted anti-coal policies in other ads, as well.

All three groups, along with a handful of others, oppose what Americans for Prosperity calls Obama’s “draconian” fuel efficiency standards — requirements that car manufacturers improve gas mileage — and the administration’s commitment to renewing tax credits for wind energy production. (See letter signed by the trio and other conservative groups).

William Koch, the brother of Koch Industries’ Charles and David, owns the energy company Oxbow Carbon and is one of the top donors to super PACs this election. He has contributed $3 million to the pro-Mitt Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future.

Charles and David, for their part, intend to spend $400 million this election, which may come through nonprofit organizations such as Americans for Prosperity, which do not disclose their donors.

In other outside spending news:

Majority PAC, a super PAC backing Senate Democrats, released “Confrontation” opposing Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in the state, and “Character,” opposing Rep. Rick Berg, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Dakota.
House Majority PAC, a super PAC backing House Democrats, released “Even Harder,” opposing Republican Rep. Dan Benishek, who is running in Michigan’s 1st District. The super PAC reported spending more than $950,000 on numerous U.S. House races.
Club for Growth Action, a conservative super PAC, released “Lobster” opposing Rep. Joe Donnelly, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Indiana, and “Wow” opposing former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona.
Americans for Job Security, a conservative nonprofit, released “Washington Money Tree,” an ad criticizing Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who is running for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin.
The League of Conservation Voters Inc. and Sierra Club Independent Action co-produced “Imagine,” which supports former Maine Gov. Angus King, an independent, in his bid for U.S. Senate.
Patriot Majority USA, a liberal nonprofit, reported spending more than $1 million on ads opposing Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and Georgia state Rep. Lee Anderson, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Georgia’s 12th District.
Conservative super PAC American Crossroads reported spending $11.7 million on ads opposing Obama. Its sister nonprofit Crossroads GPS reported spending $2.5 million opposing Obama and Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in Virginia, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
The super PAC Planned Parenthood Votes reported spending $944,000 supporting Obama and Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in Wisconsin and Montana.
The NRA Political Victory Fund reported spending $1.7 million supporting Republicans and opposing Democrats in U.S. Senate races in North Dakota, Nevada, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin, and supporting Romney and opposing Obama.
SEIU COPE, the political action committee of the Service Employees International Union, reported spending $2.3 million opposing Romney, Heller and Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif.

Daily Disclosure: Tea party PAC turns Democratic attack on its head

2012-10-17T10:30:32-04:00

“It’s time to put the adults back in charge,” says the narrator of a new attack ad from a conservative political action committee.

“Sometimes Barack Obama seems to confuse being president with being on spring break,” he continues. “It’s time to retire the beer-summit, spring-break presidency.”

The Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama released this new advertisement just after the end second presidential debate Tuesday night, which saw Obama continue his campaign’s theme of painting GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney as out-of-touch and elitist.

The ad takes the out-of-touch theme and turns it against Obama.

The PAC’s ad notes that Obama has played more than 100 rounds of golf during his tenure. It also features clips of his “slow jamming the news” on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and other talk show appearances. This is contrasted with criticisms of rising gas prices, unemployment and foreclosures.

The ad also attempts to flip what is considered one of Obama’s biggest victories — the killing of Osama bin Laden — by saying he was on the golf course when the operation got underway, which stretches the truth. Obama was on the golf course until 20 minutes before the operation to take down bin Laden began, according to a book “SEAL Target Geronimo,” published by a former Navy SEAL commander.

During the operation, Obama was gathered with his national security team in the Situation Room, a scene depicted in a famous photo released by the White House.

While the ad attempts to portray Obama as shirking his presidential duties, it is worth noting that as of July, the president had taken 81 vacation days compared to former President George W. Bush’s 243 vacation days at the same point in his presidency, according to CBS White House reporter Mark Knoller.

The Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama has spent more than $1.3 million on advertisments known as independent expenditures this election, with nearly all of that money being spent on the presidential contest, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

According to its most recent campaign finance filing with the Federal Election Commission, it has raised about $2.4 million this election cycle, including nearly $287,000 in August. Like other PACs, it is subject to contribution limits that allow individuals to give up to $5,000 per year.

The PAC is run by a handful of conservative activists, including Lloyd Marcus, a conservative columnist and singer-songwriter who wrote a tea party anthem, according to the group's website. Joe Wierzbicki, another tea party activist, is the executive director.

The Center for Media and Democracy has criticized the Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama for using its money to pay Wierzbicki’s consulting firm.

An analysis of FEC records by the Center for Public Integrity shows that 38 percent of the money spent by the PAC on independent expenditures this cycle has gone to Russo Marsh & Associates, Wierzbicki’s firm. Another 8 percent went to Wierzbicki himself and Ryan Gill, the vice president of the PAC, mainly for online advertisements. PAC treasurer Kelly Lawler did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Wierzbicki and Marcus are also on the board of the PAC of the Tea Party Express, which is known as Our Country Deserves Better. Gill was previously involved with that PAC, which has spent $443,000 on ads this election.

The Campaign to Defeat Barack Obama was established in April 2011 and is based in California. It was heavily involved in the Wisconsin gubernatorial recall election. The Center for Media and Democracy filed a complaint with the Wisconsin election board against the PAC for not registering as a political committee in the state and reporting its spending, as required by Wisconsin law.

In other outside spending news:

House Majority PAC, a super PAC supporting Democrats running for U.S. House, released four new ads:

“Alzheimers” opposes Republican Rep. Allen West in Florida’s 18th District;
“What Happened?” opposes Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack in Minnesota’s 8th District;
"Venn” opposes Republican Rep. Bob Dold in Illinois’ 10th District;
“Betrayal” opposes Jackie Walorski, the Republican candidate in Indiana’s 2nd District.

Crossroads GPS, a conservative nonprofit, released ads in five U.S. Senate races:

“Promotion” opposes Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly of Indiana and cost $1.1 million;
“Hole” opposes Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana and cost $741,000;
“Fit for a King” opposes former Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent, and cost $323,000;
“Rubber Stamp Bailout” opposes former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat;
“Lovers” opposes former Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia.

SEIU COPE, the political action committee of the Service Employees International Union, released three ads opposing Republicans:

“Taken” opposes Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., who is running for U.S. Senate against Tester;
“Won’t Be Fighting for Wisconsin Families” opposes former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican who is running for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin against Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin;
“Procedure” opposes Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., who is running for U.S. House in California’s 52nd District against economist Scott Peters, a Democrat.

Planned Parenthood Votes, a super PAC, released three new ads: the first opposes GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney; the second opposes Thompson's Senate run in Wisconsin; and the third supports Baldwin, his Democratic opponent.
Women Vote!, the super PAC of abortions-rights group EMILY’s List, also opposes Thompson with “Gone Bad.” Another new ad, “Wrong Priorities,” oppose Rep. Bobby Schilling, the Republican candidate for U.S. House in Illinois’ 17th District.
“Sack It” from the conservative super PAC American Crossroads, opposes Obama.
Obama was also hit by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the advocacy arm of the National Rifle Association, in “Fought for It,” and by the conservative nonprofit American Future Fund in “Who’s in Charge?”