NRCC Weekly Rundown: Melissa Gilbert drops out, Sanders targets Wasserman Schultz, more bad news for Ami Bera, and more!

May 27, 2016

half pint

And here’s this week’s “Half-Pint” edition of the NRCC Weekly Rundown:

BIGGEST NEWS OF THE WEEK: MI-08: “Top Tier” DCCC backed candidate Melissa Gilbert announced that she was withdrawing from the race this week. Gilbert is the 3rd candidate in the DCCC’s embarrassing Red to Blue program to leave their race, after their candidates in PA-07 and WV-02 were defeated in primaries.

National: This week the Department of State Inspector General released his damning report on Hillary Clinton’s private email server, concluding that Clinton and her staff violated numerous agency rules. This is not good for Clinton or down ballot Democrats as the FBI investigation into the server continues.

National: Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders escalated his war with national Democrats this week, endorsing and sending a fundraising email on behalf of DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s primary opponent, Tim Canova.

CA-07: Questions about Ami Bera’s involvement in his father’s illegal campaign finance scheme continue to swirl around the embattled Congressman. The NRCC examined the logical problems with Bera’s attempted explanations on the issue.

 CA-10: According to a report by the Oakdale Leader, Michael Eggman appears to be tied to the campaign finance scandal that has embroiled Ami Bera’s campaign in recent weeks. During Eggman’s unsuccessful 2014 race, Eggman’s campaign donated $1,000 to Bera’s campaign, then received a $1,000 donation from Bera’s father days later. This was the only donation made by Eggman’s campaign to another candidate in the 2014 cycle.

 CA-21: On Wednesday, the House passed legislation that included language from Rep. David Valadao that would increase the availability of water for Central Valley farmers. The NRCC asked whether Emilio Huerta and Daniel Parra would stand with Valadao and the Central Valley or with the Bay Area liberals who opposed this legislation.

IA-03: As Jim Mowrer, Mike Sherzan, and Desmund Adams prepared for a debate ahead of their primary, the NRCC suggested a few questions that the candidates have been dodging, including whether they support FBI target Hillary Clinton or socialist Bernie Sanders in their party’s presidential primary.

MD-06: In 2012, John Delaney accepted $5,000 in donations from Virginia Governor Terry McCauliffe, who is currently being investigated by the FBI for possible campaign finance irregularities. The NRCC called on Delaney to return the money.

MI-07: Gretchen Driskell was asked this week if she had any plans for what to do about our nation’s $19.2 trillion national debt. After uncomfortably stumbling through an answer, Driskell finally admitted she had no ideas on the subject.

NY-21: Mike Derrick continued to show that he cannot be trusted on national security issues. After previously announcing his support for bringing terrorists from GITMO to U.S. soil and the Iran Deal, which Secretary John Kerry admits will fund terrorism, Derrick admitted he had no plans to read the NDAA, the bill that funds Fort Drum, which is NY-21’s largest single site employer.

VA-10: After six months as a candidate, DC resident and newly minted “farmer” Luann Bennett still has not taken positions on issues important to Virginia voters. In fact, her website remains just a splash page with a donation button. Bennett has found the time, however, to fundraise, receiving $10,800 from Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, whose own campaign finances are currently being investigated by the FBI.

 

NEWS AND NOTES:

Eggman Involved In Bera Campaign Funds Scandal

“After Ami Bera’s father pleaded guilty to illegally reimbursing donors, these newest revelations suggest that Ami Bera’s campaign finance scandal goes deeper than anyone previously thought,” said National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesman Zach Hunter, when informed of the discovery. “With Michael Eggman and Babulal Bera’s donations coming within just seven days of one another, this exchange clearly appears to be coordinated. “Michael Eggman should immediately return Bera’s tainted campaign cash and come clean with 10th District voters about exactly how involved he was with the Bera network,” Hunter added READ

Lawmakers Excoriate Obama’s VA Secretary for ‘Disney’ Comments

Rep. Mike Coffman (R., Colo.), a Marine veteran, called the comments “tone deaf” and accused McDonald of trying to sidestep responsibility for his failed leadership atop the agency. “Clearly there is a difference between waiting for a roller coaster ride and waiting for life-saving treatment. Our veterans who have served this nation have earned the right to receive quality care in a timely manner. And, by the way, Disney does measure wait times. You can download their app and see for yourself,” Coffman said in a statement. READ

Derrick to Post-Star: NDAA bill read-through not on election ‘to-do list’

The National Republican Campaign Committee subsequently criticized Mr. Derrick’s statement, with NRCC spokesman Chris Pack saying that his disregard for a bill that impacts Fort Drum shows he is “clueless.” READ

Lawmakers grill TSA head over airport lines: ‘People are fed up’

The head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) told lawmakers Wednesday that the agency has deployed additional agents and canine units, established a centralized command center and is training nearly 800 new screening officers to help battle long airport lines this summer. Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) advocated for his own measure, which passed the House by voice vote last year and would help expand enrollment in the PreCheck program. READ

‘Little House on the Prairie’ star ends bid for Congress

The National Republican Congressional Committee mocked her exit from the race, sending reporters a photo of a dumpster fire and calling it “just the latest example of the mass incompetence emanating from (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) headquarters.” READ

Donovan Legislation Would Seize Terrorist Assets

Southern Brooklyn/Staten Island Congressman Dan Donovan yesterday introduced legislation to seize terrorist assets and direct them to a critical homeland security grant program. The Terrorist Asset Seizure Reform (TASR) Act would confiscate the interest accruing in accounts frozen by U.S. financial sanctions. Additionally, the TASR Act would seize the frozen principal of terrorists, financiers of terrorism, and foreign terrorist organizations one year after the U.S. freezes their accounts. READ

 House passes Stefanik’s veteran caregiver bill

Mandated in 2010, the VA’s Family Caregiver Program was designed to support family members caring for wounded veterans. The program provides medical staff to assist caregivers along with providing stipends to compensate for their work. “Our military caregivers are the unsung heroes in the community,” Ms. Stefanik said, noting that caregivers play important roles in providing support to veterans. READ

It’s On: Sanders already raising $$ for DNC chairwoman’s challenger

“As Sanders boosts far-left candidates who share his socialist vision of higher taxes and bigger government, he is forcing Democrats to move even further to the left … rendering their candidates unelectable,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Bob Salera. READ