CQ.com - MoneyLine

Romney Leads In PAC Fundraising

After spending millions of his own money during his unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney apparently has learned a thing or two about fundraising.
Romney’s political action committee, Free and Strong America PAC Inc., is leading all other politician PACs in receipts this year with more than $3 million. Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 3:15 p.m.

Ethics Panel Admonishes Burris but Clears Him of Legal Wrongdoing

Sen. Roland W. Burris provided misleading information to investigators and had inappropriate phone calls with former Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, but did not violate the law, the Senate’s ethics committee said Friday.
Ending a investigation of several months, the Select Committee on Ethics released a “public letter of qualified admonition” saying the Democrat’s actions and statements reflect unfavorably on the Senate. While the evidence did not show that Burris violated the law, the committee noted that senators “must meet a much higher standard of conduct.” Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 3:07 p.m.

DNC Outraised RNC In Big-Spending October

The Democratic National Committee outraised the Republican National Committee in October, a month in which both national party committees ramped up their fundraising and spent lavishly just ahead of the momentous Nov. 3 elections in Virginia and New Jersey.
The DNC will report later Friday to the Federal Election Commission that it raised $11.5 million and spent about $14 million in October, leaving it with about $12.3 million in the bank and $4.4 million in debts. Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 1:22 p.m.

Castle Collects Campaign Cash From GOP Senators

Newly filed campaign finance reports show that Republican senators moved quickly last month to boost the 2010 Senate campaign of Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.), one of the party’s strongest candidates to capture a Democratic-held seat.
Eager to increase their ranks beyond 40 seats, several GOP senators donated to Castle through their leadership political action committees, according to reports the organizations filed before a deadline today. Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 12:42 p.m.

NRCC Burns Cash in October For Special Election

The National Republican Congressional Committee spent more than they raised in the month of October, according to fundraising numbers due to be reported to the Federal Election Commission today.
The NRCC raised $3.4 million in October, but spent $3.6 million. That’s only slightly more than what the committee brought in during the month September. The committee will report having $4.2 million cash on hand and $2 million in debt at the end of the month. Full story

Nov. 20, 2009 - 11:21 a.m.

DOJ Drops Investigation of Former Gregg Aide

The Justice Department has dropped its investigation of a former top aide to Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) who came under scrutiny during the wide-ranging influence peddling probe centered on ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 20, 2009 - 11:22 a.m.

Plastic Surgeons Pressure Senate to Nip New Tax

The Senate Democratic plan to pay for part of health care reform by slapping a tax on elective cosmetic surgery drew jeers Thursday from doctors who specialize in such procedures as breast implants and nose jobs. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 20, 2009 - 11:20 a.m.

AHIP Opposes Senate Health Care Bill

In a move that came as little surprise, the health insurance industry’s lead lobbying group has come out against the Senate’s health care reform plan. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 20, 2009 - 11:23 a.m.

FEC Adopts New Campaign Travel Rules

The Federal Election Commission approved new rules Thursday that limit how congressional campaigns use private and corporate jets.
The new regulations restrict — and in some situations prohibit — federal candidates from spending campaign funds for non-commercial air travel. The new rules were designed to remove the influence that some special interests are believed to have on lawmakers and they coincide with the provisions of the 2007 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (PL 110-81). Full story

Nov. 19, 2009 - 6:19 p.m.

FEC Fines Firm $131,000 for Edwards Donations

The Federal Election Commission announced today that it fined a Michigan-based law firm $131,000 for making illegal donations to John Edwards’ 2004 presidential campaign.
Fieger, Fieger, Kenney, Johnson & Giroux, P.C. agreed to pay the fine after the FEC found probable cause to believe the firm used corporate funds to reimburse 66 individuals who donated money to Edwards’ campaign. The firm initiated the FEC investigation by informing the agency that the Justice Department was conducting a similar criminal investigation into its electioneering activities.

Nov. 19, 2009 - 3:34 p.m.

Coakley, Capuano to Report Nearly $2 Million in Massachusetts

Attorney General Martha Coakley (D) raised approximately $2 million more for her special election Senate bid over the past month and a half, nearly doubling her total receipts to $4.1 million, the campaign announced Thursday.
Coakley will report cash-on-hand of more than $1.9 million in her pre-primary financial disclosure, covering the period between Oct. 1 and Nov. 18. Full story

Nov. 19, 2009 - 4:05 p.m.

NRCC, NRSC to Nix Dinner

In a move that bucks a 30-year tradition, House and Senate Republican campaign leaders have agreed not to continue their annual joint fundraising dinner next year. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 19, 2009 - 10:59 a.m.

Another Good Month for Senate GOP Fundraising

The National Republican Senatorial Committee outraised its partisan counterpart in October — but the Democratic operation ended up with roughly twice as much cash in the bank.
The NRSC raised about $4 million and had about $5.9 million in cash on hand as of Oct. 30, according to fundraising reports set to be filed with the Federal Election Commission later this week. Full story

Nov. 19, 2009 - 10:58 a.m.

Daschle Jumps to DLA Piper

On the heels of former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) departing the firm, DLA Piper announced today that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has joined the firm as a senior policy adviser. Roll Call (paid content)

Nov. 19, 2009 - 10:52 a.m.

The 72 Billion Dollar Candidate?

One presidential candidate may have a huge financial advantage over all others who are running for the White House in 2012. That is if you believe his campaign finance reports.
     Last month, presidential candidate Lee L. Mercer Jr. filed reports with the Federal Election Commission saying that he has lent his campaign more than $72 billion.
     While campaigns are getting more expensive every election cycle, Mercer’s campaign disclosures strain credulity.
     In fact, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett would have to pool their fortunes together to raise as much as Mercer reportedly loaned his campaign. That’s because it is four times more than every dollar taken in by campaigns, committees and parties for all congressional and presidential campaigns since 1979.
     One would think that surely this filing must be a mistake or a joke -- but not according to Mercer.
     “It’s no mistake,” said the Democrat from Houston Texas. “It’s about $72 billion and a quarter” million in receipts so far during 2009.
     With the exception of audits, the FEC does not have many mechanisms to verify how much money federal candidates raise, so the public may have to take Mercer at his word.

Nov. 18, 2009 - 3:47 p.m.

Missed Deadlines Make for PAC-Sized Headaches

Apparent computer glitches and confusion over new reporting rules for political action committees have ensnared some of the nation’s biggest lobbying organizations, which missed a campaign finance deadline by more than seven months.
Under new rules enacted by the Federal Election Commission this year, PACs are required to report before the end of March whether they are controlled by an entity that is registered to lobby. But such well-known lobbying groups as the National Mining Association, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the National Community Pharmacists Association were among more than 800 PACs that failed to report their K Street ties by the deadline, according to an analysis by CQ MoneyLine. Full story

Nov. 16, 2009 - 10:51 a.m.

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