The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for January 9, 2023

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One of the Deals Made to Elect Kevin McCarthy Speaker Was With a SuperPAC

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Salon: – “Shameful”: Democrats sound alarm over “creepy” dark-money super PAC deal to help McCarthy win
Politico – Complaint from End Citizens United

Reuters – Kevin McCarthy elected House speaker, but at a cost
The Hill – McCarthy-backed PAC agrees to not spend in safe GOP open-seat primaries in Speakership concession
Groups Taking Action:

End Citizens United, Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

You’ve likely heard that Kev “The Contenda” McCarthy won in the 15th round in a heavyweight title bout early Saturday morning. Oh, sorry, wrong blood sport. That was U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy, who was elected Speaker of the House early Saturday morning on the 15th ballot.

It was, however, a slugfest, with ultra-Conservative Republicans in the Freedom Caucus, trading votes for key committee positions and rules changes. Such backroom deals are part of Congress.

But what raised an alarm for Democracy advocates was a reported deal negotiated as part of Congressional business with a SuperPAC. Salon reports McCarthy openly negotiated with the Congressional Leadership Fund SuperPAC to NOT run and support more moderate candidates against Freedom Caucus-supported ultra-Conservative candidates for open primary seats.

In a letter published by Politico, End Citizens United, a money-in-politics watchdog group, complained to the Office of Congressional Ethics, that QUOTE, “McCarthy and House staff acting on his behalf are using official resources to plan and direct campaign & political activities with federal super PACs” UNQUOTE, in violation of House rules, and that McCarthy and agents working on his behalf are directing the political decisions of Congressional Leadership Fund, in violation of the soft money prohibition of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

Another of McCarthy’s concessions to the Freedom Caucus? Gut the Office of Congressional Ethics.We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.

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