NRCC Weekly Rundown: Secret documents shed light on Obama Iran Deal, Bryan Caforio’s fundraising problems, and more!
And here’s this week’s special Republican National Convention edition of the NRCC Weekly Rundown:
National: NRCC Chairman Greg Walden spoke to the Republican National Convention on Monday about the overreach of the Obama administration and getting America back on the right track. Click here to watch his speech!
National: The NRCC continued to break finance records last quarter, reporting that in the first six months of 2016, the committee raised $47.6 million. Great job as usual, NRCC Finance Team!
National: In the latest news illustrating that President Obama’s Iran Deal was horribly misguided, the AP reported that secret documents lifted key restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in just over a decade, and would cut the time needed to make a nuclear weapon to just six months.
CA-21: Emilio Huerta’s campaign finance report revealed a startlingly high 97.9% burn rate, leaving him with just $57,473 heading into the general election. Rep. David Valadao starts the summer with a $1.2 million advantage.
CA-25: Campaign finance numbers came out, and they were not good news for Bryan Caforio. The carpetbagging Beverly Hills attorney had just over $81,000 cash on hand after debts, leaving him in a $537,459 deficit to Rep. Steve Knight heading into the general election.
IL-10: Brad Schneider’s second quarter fundraising report shows him trailing Rep. Bob Dold by $1.3 million in cash on hand. Even worse for Schneider, he is nearly a million dollars behind where he stood two years ago in a race he lost to Dold.
MD-06: After news of the Iran Deal secret documents broke, the NRCC asked whether John Delaney regretted his numerous votes in favor of the disastrous nuclear deal.
NV-04: Ruben Kihuen was thrilled to accept Hillary Clinton’s endorsement this week. His only problem is that recent polling shows Hillary with 59% disapproval in the 4th District.
PA-06: Mike Parrish awkwardly attempted to hit Rep. Ryan Costello for not having run a business. Normally we wouldn’t punch down at a weak candidate with just $44,000 cash on hand, but we found this extra hilarious coming from Parrish, since he has actually bankrupted a business.
PA-08: Do-nothing State Representative Steve Santarsiero has been abnormally vocal in his opposition to ending the PA-NJ tax accord. Why might that be? Perhaps because, by his own math, the accord saves him $49,000 per year in taxes.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Poll shows Justin Fareed leading in congressional race
Carbajal looks out for his best interests, not Central Coast values. “[Carbajal] has tens of thousands of dollars in personal credit card debt. According to financial disclosure forms, the amount is between $35,001 and $80,000,” according to the Santa Barbara Independent. Carbajal voted to increase his pay four separate times while mismanaging his own personal finances. Zach Hunter is the regional press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee. READ
Republican Congressional Committee urges Baricevic to return $37,600 in questionable contributions
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) wants District 12 congressional candidate C.J. Baricevic to give back more than $37,000 in campaign contributions that were allegedly made as part of an illegal “straw man” scheme. READ
Rep. Poliquin Announces Bill Aimed at Addressing Welfare Fraud
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin plans to introduce legislation Thursday to discourage people from cheating the welfare system. The announcement came during a press conference Tuesday in Lewiston. The bill will allow states to deny replacement EBT cards to recipients who have reported their cards lost or stolen four times in one year, according to Poliquin. It will also permanently ban people who are convicted of welfare fraud or trafficking drugs. READ
Lawmakers push TSA to strengthen Amtrak passenger security
A pair of House lawmakers is backing a bill that would prod the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) into implementing all the requirements of a decade-old law aimed at addressing terror threats on Amtrak. “Right now, three key 9/11 Act passenger rail requirements still remain incomplete,” Reps. Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) and Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) said in a statement. “With ever-growing security concerns across the nation, our bill directs the TSA to develop a process to follow through on these important security provisions.” READ
Congressman Dan Donovan Says Recently Leaked Document Shows Dangers of Iran Nuclear Deal
“This administration misled the American public to seal a legacy-making deal,” Donovan said in a statement Monday. Donovan referred to Deputy National Security Advisory [Ben Rhodes] statement to the New York Times in May that “The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old, and their only reporting experience consists of being around political campaigns… They literally know nothing.” “[Rhodes] already bragged about misguiding unsuspecting reporters covering the deal,” Donovan said. “Today, we’re learning why he had to do that.” READ
Rep. John Katko holds $1.36 million edge over Colleen Deacon in race for Congress
With a personal-best fundraising performance, U.S. Rep. John Katko has a significant financial advantage over Democratic challenger Colleen Deacon in 24th Congressional District race. Katko, R-Camillus, raised $522,491.19 in the second quarter of 2016, according to his Federal Election Commission filing. The fundraising period covered the period from April 1 through June 30. Katko’s campaign spent $167,610.11 and has $1,454,902.05 cash on hand. READ
Coffman outpaces Carroll again in quarterly CD6 fundraising, holds big cash lead
A steady series of fundraising quarters in which he’s outpaced his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) now has about twice as much cash on hand for the upcoming vote in Colorado’s 6th Congressional District. State Sen. Morgan Carroll, left and Congressman Mike Coffman, right, battling in 2016 for the 6th Congressional District seat Coffman, facing a re-election challenge from outgoing state Sen. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora), reported more than $560,000 in funds raised in the latest quarter. READ
Growing opportunities: Stefanik’s bill would give farmers access to broadband internet
U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, last week introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives a measure to offer farmers greater access to high-speed internet. H.R. 5897, also called the Precision Farming Act of 2016, was referred to both the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Agriculture. The bill would offer to broadband providers a one-time $15,000 reimbursement for each line installed for a qualifying precision farming operation. In addition, farmers who apply for loans to cover installation costs will have their applications prioritized per the Rural Electrification Act. READ
Valadao’s drought provisions approved
The Valadao drought provisions aim to provide relief to Californians suffering from severe drought conditions, exacerbated by excessive federal regulations. They will increase the capture and delivery of water to towns and fields, helping to provide immediate and long-term relief for distressed communities. READ
Rep. John Katko, Auburn advocates celebrate passage of bill to combat heroin epidemic
A bill sponsored by Katko was included in the larger legislative package. His measure would allow U.S. Treasury officials to submit classified information in a non-public setting when the agency is defending kingpin classifications for drug traffickers. Katko has made combating the heroin epidemic a top priority since he became central New York’s congressman in 2015. He’s held public hearings, including one in Auburn, and he’s advocated for legislative solutions. READ