Your weekly newsletter on money-in-politics

Your weekly newsletter on money in politics.
View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]
This news can't wait. Support accountability journalism and NewsMatch will double your gift. ([link removed])
December 12th, 2019
This week in money-in-politics

Corporate PAC cash takes a winding route to Democratic Senate challengers rejecting it


([link removed]) u>
Democrats’ narrow path to taking the Senate in 2020 goes through a handful of well-funded challengers, most of whom are banking on a pledge that worked wonders for the party during the 2018 midterms.

The top Democratic challengers want voters and donors alike to know they are rejecting corporate PACs. It’s a central talking point for Democrats in competitive races like Sara Gideon in Maine, Mark Kelly in Arizona and John Hickenlooper in Colorado.
Read more ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed] Share ([link removed])
[link removed] http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FgMORcT Tweet ([link removed] http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2FgMORcT)
[link removed] Forward to Friend ([link removed])
[link removed]


** ‘Dark money’ groups drove support for IRS rule eliminating donor disclosure
------------------------------------------------------------
A proposed Trump administration rule to exempt some “dark money” groups from disclosing their donors to the Internal Revenue Service is making progress after experiencing roadblocks earlier this year. A federal judge in Montana overturned the rule in late July, ruling that the IRS must go through a notice-and-comment procedure before publishing a similar rule. Read More ([link removed])
[link removed]


** Follow the money going to congressional committees
------------------------------------------------------------
Want to know who is bankrolling the members of a particular Congressional Committee? You can use our Committees tool to uncover industry contributions to the entirety of a specific Senate or House committee — a helpful reference while watching the ongoing committee hearings throughout the impeachment process. Read More ([link removed])
[link removed]


** Ukrainian foreign influence operation bankrolled by secret donors in coordinated effort
------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign agents peddling influence for a controversial Ukraine politician were part of a coordinated effort bankrolled through a secretive network of shell companies and offshore entities, according to new foreign lobbying records. The foreign influence operation centered around Ukraine’s former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko. Read More ([link removed])

============================================================
Luxury hotel stays, private flights, new nonprofits: Leadership PACs can pay for them

** ([link removed])
u>
Designed primarily to provide funding for other candidates running for office, leadership PACs are an important instrument for Washington politicos seeking leadership positions to raise money and build connections.

But for some, only a fraction of the money raised goes to support other candidates. In fact, many are instead funneling leadership PAC cash to closely-linked firms and nonprofits. Ahead of 2020, leadership PACs have combined to spend $56.6 million by far this year, but less than 30 percent of that money — totaling $16.5 million — went to other federal candidates’ campaigns.
** Read more ([link removed])
Have a friend you think would like our money-in-politics newsletter?
** Click here to forward this email! ([link removed])

OpenSecrets in the News

See where we've been cited by media outlets around the nation this week.

* ** How the Mueller Investigation Changed K Street (The Washingtonian) ([link removed])
Beltway fixers dish on the illicit economy around foreign lobbying and how Washington’s influence industry is adapting in the post-Mueller age — for better and worse.

* ** Loeffler to face ‘minefield’ of potential ethical issues in Senate (The Atlanta Journal Constitution) ([link removed])
Republican Kelly Loeffler’s immense wealth and top financial industry private-sector position helped entice Gov. Brian Kemp to appoint her to an open U.S. Senate seat, but they also pose challenges for the political newcomer.

* ** Buttigieg will open fundraisers to press, disclose bundlers (The Hill) ([link removed])
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg announced Monday his campaign would open his high-dollar fundraisers to reporters and disclose the names of campaign bundlers

** The Washington Post ([link removed])

** HuffPost ([link removed])
** Financial Times ([link removed])
** CNBC ([link removed])

** Telemundo ([link removed])
** Birmingham Business Journal ([link removed])

** Michigan Live ([link removed])
** The Chicago Maroon ([link removed])
** The North Jersey Record ([link removed])

** South Florida Sun-Sentinel ([link removed])
** Heavy. ([link removed])
** The Quint ([link removed])



** See more here ([link removed])

** tryu2.jpg ([link removed])
** count-cah-make-change.png ([link removed])
** Chair-nave.jpg ([link removed])
Copyright © 2019 Center for Responsive Politics, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website, OpenSecrets.org.

Our mailing address is:
Center for Responsive Politics
1300 L Street NW
Suite 200
Washington, District of Columbia xxxxxx
USA
** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** update subscription preferences ([link removed])