CQ.com - MoneyLine

Ethics Subcommittee Recommended Reprimand for Rangel

The investigatory subcommittee that probed ethical lapses by Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) has recommended he be reprimanded, said that panel’s chairman, Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas). Roll Call (paid content)

July 30, 2010 - 3:05 p.m.

Sestak Donates Rangel’s Campaign Contributions

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) has donated $12,000 in campaign contributions that he received from embattled Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) to a foundation that funds childhood cancer research. Full story

July 30, 2010 - 3:04 p.m.

MPAA, Kerrey End Job Negotiations

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) will not be the next CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, the trade association said Thursday. Roll Call (paid content)

July 30, 2010 - 3:06 p.m.

Barton Campaign Fund Takes Losses on BP, Other Stocks

Rep. Joe Barton lost more than $154,000 on investments of his campaign funds during the last three months, according to a CQ MoneyLine study of campaign finance reports. The Texas Republican’s campaign fund losses are due in part to drops in energy company stocks, including BP.
     Turbulence in the financial markets has taken its toll on several House campaigns, which lost in total more than a quarter of a million dollars in campaign funds since March because they invested in the stock market, but Barton’s losses make up the largest chunk of that.
     Barton saw his bottom line fall in part because of losses in broad-based funds that invested in companies linked to the recent Gulf Coast oil spill. His campaign reported losing more than $13,000 in the Fidelity Select Energy Service, which lists Halliburton and Transocean Inc. among the fund’s largest four holdings. Transocean is down more than 36 percent for the year, while Halliburton is down nearly 6 percent so far in 2010.
     Barton also lost more than $36,000 in Fidelity Dividend Growth, which bought just more than half a million shares of BP at the end of May — after the oil spill began — according to investment analysis service Morningstar.
     Though Barton knew he was investing in energy-based stock funds, a spokesman for the Congressman said he was unaware of the individual stocks in which the fund was investing, including BP, Halliburton and Transocean. Full story

July 16, 2010 - 2:19 p.m.

K Street Brought Out Big Guns to Kill DISCLOSE

The business community has spent mightily trying to defeat the Democratic-backed DISCLOSE Act, which suffered a bruising loss in the Senate earlier this week. Lobbying disclosure reports show that the campaign finance bill set off a flurry of lobbying activity in recent months. Full story

July 29, 2010 - 1:00 p.m.

Independent Expenditure Groups Start Lining Up at FEC

It didn’t take long for new independent expenditure organizations to take advantage of recent court rulings to maximize their impact on the 2010 election.
Since Friday, at least three groups filed new documents with the Federal Election Commission stating that they intend to raise unlimited funds from individuals, corporations and unions to run ads before the Nov. 2 midterms. Full story

July 28, 2010 - 4:58 p.m.

Sen. Snowe’s Decision Seems To Doom Campaign Finance Bill

Maine Republican Sen. Olympia J. Snowe said Tuesday she would not vote to end a filibuster on a campaign finance disclosure bill, dashing Democrats’ hopes to salvage the legislation, which is a White House priority and already has passed in the House. Full story

July 28, 2010 - 11:10 a.m.

Lame-Duck Burris Makes Plea for K Street Cash

Democratic Members are working overtime in the final days before the August recess to stock their campaign coffers to stem expected electoral losses this fall. But that desperation over November hasn’t stopped Sen. Roland Burris, who is not running for re-election, from putting his hand out for contributions. Roll Call (paid content)

July 28, 2010 - 11:08 a.m.

New Democrats Back Third Way Trade Report

Pro-business Democrats are urging Members to crack down on possible violations by some of the United States’ largest trading partners, as well as pushing for tough enforcement measures in ongoing trade talks with South Korea. Roll Call (paid content)

July 28, 2010 - 11:07 a.m.

Cantor Leads in PAC Giving

House Republican Whip Eric Cantor is showing major fundraising prowess as the GOP tries to take back control of the House.
So far during the 2010 election cycle, his political action committee, Every Republican Is Crucial has donated more than $1 million to 156 Republican candidates. That’s more than hundreds of thousands above what any other such PAC connected to a lawmaker or candidate has reported, according to a CQ MoneyLine study of PACs through the second quarter of 2010.
The donations are part of $11.1 million in contributions this cycle by politician PACs — which has topped all other industries in giving including building trades unions that contributed $10.1 million, unions-public employees unions giving almost $9.3 million and attorneys PACs that chipped in $8.1 million.

July 27, 2010 - 5:08 p.m.

Ring Case to Test Corruption Law

The fate of former Capitol Hill aides caught in the influence-peddling scandal centered on ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff may hang on the trial of their peer Kevin Ring, whose case is among the first to test the effect of a Supreme Court decision that restricted the scope of a key public corruption statute. Roll Call (paid content)

July 27, 2010 - 10:56 a.m.

Rahm Helps Meek Hook D.C. Dollars

Rep. Kendrick Meek, who’s in a tough Senate primary in Florida, ought to be able to lure a lot of fellow Democrats to next week’s Washington fundraiser. The bait: some face time with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Full story

July 27, 2010 - 10:59 a.m.

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