Shadow group provides Sanders super PAC support he scorns

[lapucelle]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders says he doesn’t want a super PAC. Instead, he has Our Revolution, a nonprofit political organization he founded that functions much the same as one.

Like a super PAC, which is shorthand for super political action committee, Our Revolution can raise unlimited sums from wealthy patrons that dwarf the limits faced by candidates and conventional PACs. Unlike a super PAC, however, the group doesn’t have to disclose its donors — a stream of revenue commonly referred to as “dark money.”

Now, with less than one month to go before the Iowa caucuses, Our Revolution appears to be skirting campaign finance law, which forbids groups founded by federal candidates and officeholders from using large donations to finance federal election activity, including Sanders’ 2020 bid.

snip=================================================================================

Our Revolution has taken in nearly $1 million from donors who gave more than the limits and whose identities it hasn’t fully disclosed, according to tax filings for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Much of it came from those who contributed six-figure sums.

It won’t have to publicly reveal its 2019 fundraising until after this year’s presidential election. And money it raises between now and then won’t have to be disclosed until the following year.

“Any entity established by a federal officeholder can only raise and spend money under federal contribution limits for any activities in connection with a federal election,” said Paul S. Ryan, a campaign finance expert and attorney with the good-government group Common Cause. “Our Revolution was undoubtedly established by Sen. Sanders, is subject to these laws — and is seemingly in violation of them.”

snip=================================================================================

Sanders’ campaign did not respond to a detailed list of questions from The Associated Press.

https://apnews.com/345bbd1af529cfb1e41305fa3ab1e604

[Me.]

1. Isn't That Rich, Literally!

[lapucelle]

2. Read the whole story to see who got rich with the six figure salaries.

[Me.]

3. I KNow Devine Really Pulled In The Loot Last Time Around

and I know Jane's kids are taken care of but I'll read


I see a nice payday for Nina...I wonder how much Sirota and Gray make.

[lapucelle]

5. Our Revolution provided the seed money for the Sanders Institute where family members

drew six figure salaries.

[Me.]

6. With No Previous Experience

[George II]

9. This too is interesting:

High-Dollar Donations Funded Bernie Sanders' Policy Group A Year Before His 2020 Campaign

The Sanders Institute raised more than $361,000 last year from a total of 13 large contributions.

Ruby Cramer BuzzFeed News Reporter

More than a dozen high-dollar contributions funded Bernie Sanders’ policy institute the year before he launched his second presidential bid, including one donation totaling $100,000, according to tax forms filed this month with the Internal Revenue Service.

The Sanders Institute, a progressive think tank founded in 2017 by the Vermont senator’s wife, Jane Sanders, raised more than $361,000 last year from a total of 13 large contributions ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, the tax filing shows.

The institute's executive director, Jane Sanders’ son from a previous marriage, Dave Driscoll, provided a copy of the filing, which is subject to public inspection, and said that most of the high-dollar contributions came from organizations or family foundations and grants. Bernie and Jane Sanders also provided some of that funding, Driscoll said.

Driscoll identified some of the contributors as the National Nurses United, a progressive network of nurses that helped fund Sanders’ 2016 campaign; Our Revolution, the political nonprofit Sanders founded after the primary; and Healthy Housing Foundation, a nonprofit branch of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation focused on providing housing for people with low incomes. The Sanders Institute listed National Nurses United, Our Revolution, and Healthy Housing Foundation as the three partners of the institute’s 2018 gathering.

Driscoll declined to disclose further details, or identify the source of each contribution.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rubycramer/bernie-sanders-institute-donations

[Cha]

4. KR

[George II]

7. Here's an interesting and recent addition to their website (today perhaps?):

Our Revolution is a non-profit funded primarily by individual donors. The work of our movement would not be possible without the generosity and commitment of our community. We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our donors.

Because of our commitment to transparency, donors who have given $250 or more in a single year are disclosed voluntarily. In addition, annual contributions from a single source are limited to $5,000 unless approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

In other words, we'll violate the tax exemption laws as long as a majority of the Board of Directors approves!

[lapucelle]

8. Didn't the NYT Editorial Board warn that BS "over-promises"?

Where are the medical records he volunteered a promise for?

[betsuni]

10. K&R