John Boehner's pay for play scheme called "Boehner for Speaker Committee" has largely flown under the radar as Campaign 2010 was deluged in a flood of dark money. Boehner advertised access to his office in return for contributions to this committee. The more you give grants you increased access. That fits the classic definition of pay for play.
Tracking down Boehner's infamous group isn't as easy as going to the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org and typing the fundraising group into a search bar. The Federal Elections Commission site was, predictably, less useful. But if you've got a little bloodhound in you and keep searching it can be found.
At OpenSecrets.org I isolated Political Party Committees, then just those of the Republican variety before Boehner for Speaker Committee was listed. When that link was clicked it took me to another page concisely telling me this was an Affiliated Committee with a dollar total of $3,419,111. The detail was revealed by clicking the hyper-link.
The Boehner for Speaker Committee raised $3,419,111and spent $2,833,129. It began with no cash on hand and ended up with $585,981cash on hand. This group shows no debt.
In a glaring error this report shows that the Boehner for Speaker Committee gave no money to candidates for federal office.
In keeping with Campaign 2010's tawdry image of non-disclosed donors this committee did not disclose who gave them the $3.4 million in exchange for varying levels of access to the next Speaker of the House. Those names can be found by reading the quarterly reports.
The summary report is found online at: http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/affiliatesdetail.php?pacid=C00478354&cycle=2010.
A link at the bottom takes you to the FEC site showing the original documents. The April 2010 quarterly statement showed the Boehner for Speaker Committee at a standstill having raised no money.
The July quarterly report showed the committee had moved from Ohio to a basement unit on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. Money started flowing as well. The report shows that $570,300.00 was raised and $431899.99 was spent. $138400.01 remained as cash on hand.
The donors represent a who's who list of fat cats for whom Boehner and the Republicans are fighting to extend the FAT CAT TAX BOONDOGGLE. Here are some of the FAT CATS and what they did to influence politics in Campaign 2010.
James Akers of Middletown, Ohio who gave $1,000 to the Boehner for Speaker Committee. In Campaign 2010 he also gave $9,800 to the National Republican Congressional Committee; $5,000 to the Republican Party of Ohio' $2,400 to Ronald E Hood, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for Congress from Ohio's 18 District; $4,800 to Rob Portman, the former Republican Representative to Congress and current Senator-elect from Ohio; $4,500 to John Boehner; and $2,400 to the once and future Republican Representative from Ohio's 1st, Steve Chabot. Mr. Akers of Middletown, Ohio coughed up $29,900 to Republicans for Campaign 2010, he qualifies as a FAT CAT .
Lindsey Matthews Blaise, a homemaker from The Villages, Florida. OpenSecrets.org reports that Blaise gave $30,400 to the National Republican Congressional Committee and $5,000 to the Freedom Project, a John Boehner Leadership PAC. Apparently the data didn't get sorted well enough to show this person also gave $37,800 to the Boehner for Speaker Committee. Blaise qualifies as a FAT CAT for giving Republicans $73,200 for Campaign 2010.
Wayne Boich, Jr., a commodity broker, gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $15,000. Boich is a big giver to Republicans. He gave $5,000 to the Building Our Opportunities Together (Republican) PAC; $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project PAC; $4,800 to Rob Portman; $2,400 to Montana Republican Representative Denny Rehberg; $12,600 to the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee; $5,000 to the Ohio Coal Association (a PAC which gave 24% to Democrats and 74% to Republicans in Campaign 2010); $5,000 to Ohio's Future PAC, a Republican PAC; $4,800 to John Boehner; $4,800 to Republican Representative-elect Bob Gibbs of Ohio's 18th District; $4,800 to Republican Representative-elect Steve Stivers of Ohio's 15th Congressional District. Boich also gave $2,400 to Rob Portman's Democratic opponent Lee Irwin Fisher and $10,000 to Democratic Representative Tim Ryan's Penguin Pac. Boich knows how to hedge his bets. Boich's $81,600 in political contributions makes him a FAT CAT.
Harper Boone, also of The Villages, Florida gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $37,800. Boone's other donations were for $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project; $2,400 to Boehner; $30,400 to the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee; $4,800 to Rob Portman; $4,800 to former Republican Florida Governor turned Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate Charlie Crist; $2,400 to Republican Representative-elect Richard B. Nugent from Florida's 4th District; and $5,000 to Mitt Romney's Free and Strong PAC. Boone boosted Republican coffers by $92,600 which means he's a FAT CAT.
David Brennan of Naples, Florida gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $12,400. Brennan also gave $10,000 to the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee; another $3,900 to Boehner; $2,400 to Bob Gibbs; $4,800 to Rob Portman; $2,000 to incumbent Republican Representative Steven C LaTourette from Ohio's 14th District; $2,400 to incumbent Republican Representative Jean Schmidt from Ohio's 2nd District; $2,400to former Republican Representative Tom Campbell for his failed bid in the U.S. Senate race; $2,400 to James B. Renacci, the Republican Representative from Ohio's 16th District; $10,000 to the Republican Party of Ohio; and $2,400 to Florida's Republican/Tea Party Senator-elect Marco Rubio. Brennan coughed up $55,100 to prove he's a FAT CAT.
Nicholas Calio may be a fat cat's fat cat. He showed up multiple times on the OpenSecrets.org site. He's listed under the revolving door for his ties as a lobbyist for Citigroup Management Group, a lobbyist for the OB-C Group, and as having worked in the White House in Legislative and Congressional Affairs. He's also listed as a bundler. Bundlers are "people with friends in high places who, after bumping against personal contribution limits, turn to those friends, associates, and, well, anyone who's willing to give, and deliver the checks to the candidate in one big 'bundle,'" according to OpenSecrets.org. Cailo gave Boehner for Speaker $10,000. He also gave $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project PAC; $2,400 to Boehner; $1,000 to Kentucky Secretary of State Republican Trey Grayson, who lost the primary to Tea Party icon Rand Paul; $1,000 to former Republican forced by the Tea Party to turn Independent Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski; 42 separate contributions of $208 totaling $8,736 to Citigroup, Inc (a PAC with which he has ties); $2,400 to Republican Senator Robert Bennett from Utah; $1,000 to Texas' Republican Senator John Cornyn; and $1,000 to South Dakota's Republican Senator John Thune. Cailo checks in at $32,536 making him a FAT CAT.
Tracy Matthews of The Villages Florida gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $37,800. Another person, with the same address, named M'Lissa Matthews sent the National Republican Congressional Committee $30,400. Other mysteriously similar names at this residence also made remittances to Republican interests. The Huffington Post shows that Tracy Matthews gave the National Republican Congressional Committee $30,400; M'Lissa M. Morse gave $2,400 Republican Representative-elect Rich Nugent from Florida's 5th District; M'Lissa Morse gave Boehner $2,400; and Tracy Matthews gave $2,400 to Boehner. The goings on at this Florida residence may be on the up and up but this sure smells fishy. The total contributions from the Tracy & M'Lissa Matthews & Morse combo totals $105,800 making this residence a FAT CAT home.
Wait, it gets better or worse depending on your perspective. M'Lissa Morse also gave $37,800 to the Boehner for Speaker Committee. That raises the residence total to $143,600. Now inquiring minds want to know if H. Gary Morse resides with Tracy Matthews and M'Lissa Morse since the address he gave appears to be for his company, The Villages of Lake Sumter. H. Gary Morse chipped in $37,800 to the Boehner for Speaker Committee. Did that household total just go to $181,400?
The Morse parade just keeps on giving. Next up is Mark Morse, giving the corporate address and giving the Boehner for Speaker Committee $37,800. Then comes Renee Morse, using the same address, and sending the Boehner for Speaker Committee another $37,800. Jennifer Par further muddies up the waters by sending her $37,800 from the Village of Lake Sumter business address used by H. Gary Morse, Mark Morse, and Renee Morse. That's a lot of loot from one address.
R. J. Reynolds Executive Vice President and Attorney Tommy Payne gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $2,500. He also gave retiring Indiana Republican Representative Steve Buyer $2,000. Buyer is retiring because of his wife's poor health; $3,800 to North Carolina Republican Senator Richard Burr; $100 to the National Republican Congressional Committee; $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project PAC; $2,400 to Boehner from the Tommy Payne II that is reporting as the NICONOVUM USA, INC./PRESIDENT - NIC; $4,813 bundled in 14 contributions, 11 at $346, 2 at $366 each and one for $335 to R. J. Reynolds Tobacco, apparently for its PAC; and a hedge betting contribution to Democratic AmericPAC for $5,000. The tab on Tommy Payne runs to $25,613 qualifying him for FAT CAT status.
Philip Purcell, President of Continental Investors gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $25,000. He also gave $5,000 to the Republican Party of Illinois; $2,400 to Massachusetts' Republican Senator Scott Brown; $2,400 to Michael Halfacre, the Fair Haven, N.J. mayor who ran for Congress in a losing bid; $4,800 to new Republican Senator Mark Kirk from Illinois; $2,300 to Ethan Hastert in his losing primary bid to run for his father's former seat, Ethan is the son of the former Speaker; $7,000 to Republican Representative-elect Adam Kinzinger from Illinois' 11th Congressional District; $2,400 to Robert Dold, the Republican Representative-elect from Illinois' 10th Congressional District; $2,400 to Rob Portman; $2,400 to Randy Hultgren the Republican Representative-elect from Illinois' 11th Congressional District; and $22,600 to the National Republican Congressional Committee. Philp Purcell paid out $78,700 assuring him of FAT CAT status.
Albert and Barbara Siemer of New Albany, Ohio each gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $37,800. Albert is the owner of DESCO Corporation a company that manufactures, among other things U.S. Navy Divers' Knives. Barbara is a community volunteer. On Albert's side of the ledger are gifts to the National Republican Congressional Committee for $30,400; Boehner's Freedom Project PAC for $5,000; $2,400 to Patrick Tiberi, the Republican Representative from Ohio's 12th Congressional District; and $10,000 to the Republican Party of Ohio. From Barbara's side, she's given $30,400 to the National Republican Congressional Committee; $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project PAC; and $2,650 to Patrick Tiberi. The Siemer family gave Republican interests $161,450 making them FAT CATS.
John Snow, the former Secretary of the Treasury, gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $37,800. He also gave $10,000 to the Republican Party of Minnesota; $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project PAC; $4,800 to former Vice President Dan Quayle's son Ben Quayle who is now the Republican Representative-elect from Arizona's 3rd Congressional District; $4,800 to Republican Roy Blunt who is moving from representing Missouri's 7th Congressional District to the U.S. Senate; $2,400 to Rob Portman; $30,400 to the National Republican Congressional Committee; and $30,400 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Secretary Snow gave $125,600 earning his FAT CAT merit badge.
Amber and Justin Wilson from The Villages, Florida each gave the Boehner for Speaker Committee $37,800. Amber is a homemaker and Justin is the Sales Manager for the Villages of Lake Sumter, they are avid Republican givers. On Amber's behalf 30,400 went to the National Republican Congressional Committee; $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project PAC; and $2,400 to Richard B. Nugent. Justin gave $30,400 to the National Republican Congressional Committee; $5,000 to Boehner's Freedom Project PAC; another $2,400 to Boehner; and $2,400 to Richard. B. Nugent. The Wilson's gave $153,600 marking them as FAT CATS.
These FAT CATS are holding up the Middle Class Tax Cuts insisting on the FAT CAT TAX BOONDOGGLE. Shame on them.
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