File – In this Jan. 19, 2013 file photo, people from throughout Oklahoma gather into the south plaza at the state Capitol, in Oklahoma City to voice their support for their second amendment rights and to express concerns about proposed gun control legislation being considered by the federal government in the wake of the school shooting in Connecticut. The difficult task of plugging a $900 million hole in the state budget has not deterred conservative Oklahoma lawmakers from pushing their social agendas on abortion, gun rights and same-sex marriage. (Jim Beckel/The Oklahoman via AP, File ) LOCAL TV OUT (KFOR, KOCO, KWTV, KOKH, KAUT OUT); LOCAL INTERNET OUT; LOCAL PRINT OUT (EDMOND SUN OUT, OKLAHOMA GAZETTE OUT) TABLOIDS OUTCampaign finance reform going backwards
Our political process just became more subverted.
Last week, it became public knowledge that the IRS in November green-lighted dark campaign money.
OpenSecrets.org, a website of the Center for Responsive Politics, learned that the IRS had granted tax-exempt status to Karl Rove’s group, Crossroads GPS. After a five-year battle, Crossroad GPS now can keep its donors secret.
It is another affront to transparency in U.S. election financing, and it gives secret wealth a clearer path forward for doling out influence in campaign after campaign.
Crossroads GPS, established in 2010 by Republican strategist Rove, was born just months after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. That ruling which freed 501(c)(4) organizations that described themselves as “social welfare nonprofits” like GPS to engage in more direct politicking than before.
The New York Times, in a Friday editorial, called the IRS decision “farcical,” “ludicrous” and “shameful.”
You may recall the dust-up in 2013 when IRS head Lois Lerner answered a planted question at an American Bar Association event and apologized for inappropriately scrutinizing some groups applying for a tax exemption. Her response fueled a full-on scandal within hours. Congressional hearings were held within weeks and the interim leader of the IRS was forced from office amid questions whether the IRS improperly targeted the tea party and other conservative groups. It turned out that the IRS questioned groups like the NAACP as well. After a two-year investigation, the Department of Justice announced in October that no criminal wrongdoing was found. Within a month, Rove’s group was given tax-exempt status.
Pundits call campaign money from 501(c)(4) groups “the dark money,” as the IRS documentation for them has an unwritten rule – bolstered by a 2010 Supreme Court decision – that they may spend no more than 49 percent of their resources for political purposes.
We’re not talking small amounts of money, either, according to the Center for Responsive Politics and the Center for Public Integrity. In 2010, the social welfare nonprofits – the 501(c)(4)s – outspent super PACs by a 3-2 margin.
And conservative nonprofits spent more than $263 million during the 2012 campaign, while their liberal counterparts spent close to $35 million.
Since then, – and certainly now with IRS blessing – the totals will soar still higher and we voters will be none the wiser of who the big money donors are – in either party. After Rove pioneered the subterfuge, President Obama’s re-election was helped by the Democrats’ Priorities USA Action operation, another “social welfare” organization under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code.
This year’s Democratic candidates for president are calling for campaign finance reform, and Bernie Sanders is walking the walk by using only small individual donations from voters.
Republican candidates don’t even bring up campaign finance reform.
Dark money, dark times.
More guns, more places, more mayhem
Speaking of elected officials being influenced with scary money, Tennessee Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, and House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, revealed Thursday they decided last month to remove signs barring gun permit holders from bringing their weapons into Legislative Plaza and the War Memorial Building.
Why not? The National Rifle Association, which has given thousands to Tennessee lawmakers – mostly Republicans – has already prevailed in securing General Assembly votes to eliminate gun-free parks, churches, bars and everything else in the Volunteer State.
But Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is not so keen on the idea, saying he wants to keep the gun ban within the state Capitol building, which is connected to the Legislative Plaza via an underground tunnel.
“We don’t think that people should be able to bring weapons in here,” Haslam said. “This is a secure building. We’ve got metal detectors; we’ve got troopers with guns.”
There you go. Metal detectors. But how about bulletproof vests?