Frank Guinta, the RGA, and $100,000

by: Dean Barker

Wed Sep 21, 2011 at 05:45:26 AM EDT

( - promoted by William Tucker)

The non-partisan watchdog CREW made official what we've suspected: that both of our congressmen, Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass are among the 14 most corrupt of over 500 members of Congress.

Perhaps this renewed scrutiny into Frank Guinta's campaign mystery money (still unresolved by FEC) can bring needed press attention to a more recent matter.

Union Leader, August 26, 2011:

Guinta mentioned that he had contacted several national groups for money and that he had been hoping "to get up to $100,000 from the Republican Governors Association [for the NHGOP]," the source said.

The question here is whether the Union Leader's source inadvertently revealed illegal activity by Guinta for soliciting well beyond the federal campaign limit. Even if that solicitation was for NHGOP and not his own re-election campaign.

From Mother Jones, key piece of information on a related issue. This concerns a loophole scheme for federal officeholders to solicit unlimited funds for super-PACs, which in turn could then spend unlimited amounts in their districts bashing their opponents (quite analogous to state party spending):

Last week, the campaign finance watchdog's top attorneys quietly released a draft opinion declaring that Bopp's plan violates campaign finance law. Specifically, the attorneys pointed to the McCain-Feingold law, which bans elected officials and candidates from soliciting "soft money," or unlimited campaign contributions, in connection with a federal election. The attorneys added that it's OK for federal officials to appear and speak at fundraisers where unlimited cash is being raised, so long as they don't directly solicit it themselves.

Oh, did I forget to mention that the current RGA chair is Bob McDonnell, who is headlining a huge fundraiser for NHGOP days from now? And the previous chairman, who left the post recently because of his presidential run, is Rick Perry?

(find me > 140 on birch paper; on Twitter < 140)

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