OSC ANNOUNCEMENT. Press Release. “The FEC referred to OSC evidence that the employee posted dozens of partisan political tweets, including many soliciting campaign contributions to President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and other political campaigns, despite Hatch Act restrictions that prohibit FEC and other ‘further restricted’ employees from such activity. The employee also participated in a Huffington Post Live internet broadcast via webcam from an FEC facility, criticizing the Republican Party and then-Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Following a joint investigation between OSC and the FEC Office of Inspector General, the employee admitted to violating the Hatch Act and resigned.”
FEC LAWYER INVESTIGATED. WT. “An employee at the Federal Election Commission, the nonpartisan agency that oversees campaigns, has resigned after admitting to campaigning for President Obama in 2012, in violation of federal laws.”
VICE CHAIR TO TESTIFY. WFB. “The vice chairwoman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), who once falsely accused the Koch brothers of campaign finance disclosure violations, will testify on Wednesday before a congressional hearing about anonymous campaign donations.”
SUPPORTING WEHBY. WS. “A GOP super PAC is spending more than $75,000 on TV ads supporting Oregon Senate candidate Monica Wehby ahead of the state’s May 20 primary.”
SUPER PAC SPENDS. Plain Dealer. “A SuperPAC operated by former Bainbridge Township congressman Steve LaTourette on Tuesday filed Federal Election Commission paperwork that shows it spent $27,850 on a new mailing to oppose Tea Party Republican Matt Lynch’s challenge to LaTourette’s successor in Congress.”
DOLLARS AND SENSE. The agenda for today’s hearing is online here.
LABOR SUPER PAC UP. Boston Magazine. “The recently formed National Association of Government Employees Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee has scheduled an ad attacking Charlie Baker, to run during the sixth inning of today’s Boston Red Sox game airing on NESN…”
READY FOR SUPER PACS. NBC. “Ready for Hillary recently submitted its first quarter income and spending to the Federal Election Commission. More than $375,000 went to online advertising, while $228,000 went to direct mail production, $135,000 to printing, and $46,000 for postage fees. In total, the pro-Hillary group spent $1.6 million through March 31.”
20 YEARS OF PAY TO PLAY. Overby. “While the Supreme Court this month took another step in freeing up big political donors, another set of federal restrictions on political money is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The so-called pay-to-play rules — enforced by the Securities and Exchange Commission — are a narrow but powerful way to control political cash.”
NONPROFIT DISCLOSURE QUESTIONS. FoxNews. “In an era of heightened scrutiny against tax-exempt nonprofits, one left-leaning labor group may be ripe for investigation.”
LA: LIMIT RAISED. The Advocate. “Effective in July, the dollar amount that can be spent per occasion is increasing to $58. The per-event limit had been $57.”
NY: GROUP SEEKS INQUIRY. Newsday. “A watchdog group has asked the state ethics commission to investigate whether lobbying laws were broken when a Suffolk County company hired politically connected developer Gary Melius to help get ignition interlock legislation enacted.”
NY: CALL FOR PROBE. NYP. “Ed Cox says the US Attorney and JCOPE — the Joint Commission on Public Ethics — should look into whether Cuomo improperly meddled in the deliberations of the commission he impaneled to probe political corruption.”
HAVE A GREAT DAY.