Democrat Hypocrisy on Tax Cut Bonuses vs. Campaign Finance Disclosure

Writing in the Washington Examiner, Prof. Brad Smith astutely pointed out the disconnect between House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's response to employees receiving $1,000 bonuses as a result of the tax cut bill passed in December and the current campaign finance disclosure thresholds:

. . . The truth is that the U.S. today has more extensive disclosure than ever before. Contrary to popular myth, even “super PACs” are required by law to publicly disclose all donors giving more than $200. Traditional PACs, political parties, and candidates must do the same. In many states, the disclosure thresholds are much lower — as little as $10. 

Which takes me back to “crumbs.” If Nancy Pelosi thinks that $1,000 is “crumbs,” why does she support a law that requires every American who contributes more than $200 (and as little as $10 in some states) to a candidate, political party, or PAC, to be reported to the government, with their names, addresses, and employment information published for the world to see? . . . 

. . . A $200 contribution represents about one one-hundredth of 1 percent of what the average winning House candidate spent in 2016. No one in Congress is being corrupted by $200 contributions. Nor do undecided voters learn anything from seeing the personal information of thousands of small donors, whom they almost certainly have never heard of. 

These disclosure thresholds were low when enacted, and haven’t been adjusted, not even for inflation, since 1979. Studies have shown that compulsory disclosure of campaign contributions discourages small donor political participation. . . . The threshold at which contributor information must be publicly disclosed should be substantially higher than it currently is. That would simplify the reporting system, make harassment of small donors less likely, and encourage small donor participation. That would be one campaign finance reform both Left and Right could get behind. And it wouldn’t be “crumbs.”

Democrats and liberals are quick to dismiss when Americans get to keep more of their hard-earned money (and of course, $1,000 is a substantial amount to most people, even if not to multi-millionaire Pelosi).  Yet despite lamenting the lack of small donor participation in the political system, they champion outdated disclosure requirements that discourage small donors and require disclosure of small contributions of which a candidate takes no notice.  And as Prof. Smith describes, in this era of political violence and intimidation, the disclosure requirements open up everyday Americans to bullying and threats of violence for expressing their political beliefs through their contributions.

Thoughts and Prayers with Victims of Today's Attack on Congressional Baseball Practice

This morning, we were startled by sad and shocking news that a deranged individual opened fire and deliberately targeted members, associates, and staff of the U.S. Congress while they were practicing for a charity baseball game later this week. His target was, apparently, to hurt and kill Republicans. In the chaos, five people, including Majority Whip Steve Scalise, were injured and the assailant died while in custody.

President Trump delivered a statement shortly after the incident. He expressed his thoughts and prayers for the victims and his appreciation for the valor of the Capitol Police and first responders. He ended his remarks with this:

We may have our differences—but we do well in times like these, to remember that everyone who serves in our Nation's Capitol is here because, above all, they love our country. We can all agree that we're blessed to be Americans. That our children deserve to grow up in a nation of safety and peace. And that we're strongest when we're unified. And when we work together for the common good.

Speaker Paul Ryan, convened the House of Representatives at the start of business and delivered this statement:

We are all horrified by this dreadful attack on our friends and on our colleagues and those who serve and protect this Capitol. We are all praying for those who were attacked and for their families . . . We are united in our shock, we are united in our anguish. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us . . . [B]efore this House returns to its business, let's just slow down and reflect. To think about how we're all being tested right now. Because we are being tested right now. I ask each of you to join me to resolve to come together—to resolve to come together, to lift each other up and to show the country, to show the world that we are one house, the “People’s House,” united in our—People's House, united in our humanity. It is that humanity which will win the day and it always will. God bless.

Minority Leader Pelosi joined Speaker Ryan and added: 

To my colleagues, you're going to hear me say something you've never heard me say before. I identify myself with the remarks of the Speaker. They were beautiful remarks, Mr. Speaker, thank you so much . . . We are called for a purpose to this body. It's a great thing. And we know what it means to each of us to serve and we recognize that in others. And we also recognize that you have your constituents, we have ours. And we respect you and your constituents who sent you here. All worthy of respect. But we do have our differences. And so I pray, my prayer is that we can resolve our differences in a way that furthers the preamble to the Constitution, takes us closer to e pluribus unum . . . Thank you for the opportunity to share thoughts with you on this sad day. Steve and others, you are deeply in our prayers. We count the minutes until you return . . . .

While various political groups will not always agree on the issues, this must never be an excuse to devolve into violence. Vigorous debate is important in the deliberative political process in our democracy. But, when extremists act out in violence, it becomes an attack against our freedoms.

The RNLA extends its thoughts and prayers to Majority Whip Steve Scalise and the other victims of this senseless crime and their friends and family. We wish them all a speedy recovery.