“It wasn’t enough for Erik Paulsen to accept tens of thousands of dollars in free travel from international special interest groups – now he wants to open the door to foreign contributions, too,” said Sacha Haworth of the DCCC. “Minnesotans deserve a Member of Congress who will help to end the influence of dark money in our political system, not encourage it.”
ICYMI
Erik Paulsen backs bill allowing foreign powers to influence U.S. elections on the sly
City Pages
…Paulsen…cast a vote for a bill that would allow tax-exempt groups from ever having to reveal its donors — even to the federal government….
Under current law, 501(c) organizations like the medical industry advocate Consortium don’t have to reveal their donors to the public, but they do have to disclose any contributors giving more than $5,000 to the IRS. This allows the feds to vet for influences like cash from foreign governments.
The GOP-controlled House took a big step toward nixing this regulatory inconvenience. It passed the grandly titled Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act on Tuesday. Paulsen’s vote was among the 240 backers.
If it were to ultimately become law, any nonprofit from the Consortium to the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, the political arm of billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, would never have to worry about the feds knowing whose behind of the attacks. Hence, the reason it’s referred to as “dark money.”
This could include foreign governments.
Critics of bill, like Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation, which work toward campaign finance reform and greater transparency, flag the bill as “misguided legislation” that “could effectively open up a loophole allowing foreign money in elections.”
While cash from outside countries isn’t allowed in U.S. elections, the Sunlight Foundation notes, “It can be deposited into these nonprofits — which can then spend that money in elections while keeping the identity of donors hidden. By removing the only way the government has of vetting these contributions, the bill would prevent the IRS from safeguarding U.S. elections from the influence of foreign companies and individuals.”
Paulsen did not respond to repeated interview requests.