.Politics » Campaign Cash

Rep. Frank Lucas Targeted by Club for Growth for “Low” Lifetime Rating, Called Liberal

Chris Casteel — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:59:00 +0000

Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, has a lifetime rating from the free-market conservative group Club for Growth of nearly 70 percent. But it’s not 70 percent; it’s 68 percent. So Lucas, the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and a strong advocate of farm and rural subsidies, is being targeted by the group in a new campaign called PrimaryMyCongressman.com.
According to the group, the purpose of the website is “to raise awareness of Republicans In Name Only (RINOs) who are currently serving in safe Republican seats.”
Club for Growth, whose campaign arm helped Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, raise money for his 2004 race, says it will use the web site to highlight “liberal” Republicans and allow people to suggest primary opponents for them.
Lucas was first elected in 1994 and has been reelected easily since.

Lucas said, “I am surprised the Washington, D.C. based political group, Club for Growth would target me as a Congressman who has not voted conservatively enough.
“In my record of representing my constituents in the Third Congressional District of Oklahoma, I have always put their best interest first. On their web site, the Club for Growth is trying to affect Republican primaries, and I believe that is their right of free speech. However, anytime I have to choose between the influences of D.C. political groups and my fellow Oklahomans – I will always side with my fellow Oklahomans.”

Here is an excerpt from Club for Growth press release. The reference to Mitt Romney is the GOP presidential nominee’s performance in the highlighted members’ districts last year.

“Club for Growth Action will rotate liberal Republicans through the website to highlight their failed records on limiting government. To start, the following Republican members are highlighted:

· Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 58%; Romney % of Vote: 64%

· Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 56%; Romney % of Vote: 53%

· Rep. Rick Crawford (AR-01) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 56%; Romney % of Vote: 61%

· Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 68%; Romney % of Vote: 74%

· Rep. Steve Palazzo (MS-04) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 69%; Romney % of Vote: 68%

· Rep. Martha Roby (AL-02) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 69%; Romney % of Vote: 63%

· Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-08) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 68%; Romney % of Vote: 58%

· Rep. Renee Ellmers (NC-02) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 66%; Romney % of Vote: 57%

· Rep. Aaron Schock (IL-18) Lifetime Club for Growth Rating: 61%; Romney % of Vote: 61%

“Big government liberals inhabit the Democratic Party, but they are far too common within the Republican Party as well,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “The Republicans helped pass billions of dollars in tax increases and they have repeatedly voted against efforts by fiscal conservatives to limit government. PrimaryMyCongressman.com will serve as a tool to hold opponents of economic freedom and limited government accountable for their actions.”

Sen.-Elect Elizabeth Warren’s Oklahoma Donors

Chris Casteel — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:58:14 +0000

It was a miniscule share of the $39 million raised by Oklahoma native Elizabeth Warren for her U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts, but Oklahomans chipped in $30,600 to her victorious campaign.
Warren, who was raised in Oklahoma City and graduated from Northwest Classen High School, got money from doctors, lawyers, business people and Oklahoma Bankers Association president Roger Beverage, who wound up a supporter despite once calling her the “anti-Christ.”
Warren defeated Republican Sen. Scott Brown and will take over the Senate seat that long belonged to the late Ted Kennedy.…

Oklahoma Republican Party Transfers $3.2 Million to Florida GOP

Chris Casteel — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:31:25 +0000

The Oklahoma Leadership Council, the federal campaign account of the Oklahoma Republican party, transferred $3,255,000 to the Florida Republican Party in September from the money it has been receiving as part of a joint fundraising committee for Mitt Romney’s campaign.
The Romney campaign and national GOP organizations have essentially parked nearly $8 million in the Oklahoma Republican Party’s federal account in the last few months _ money that was expected to be sent to targeted states or races. Florida is one of the swing states in the presidential election.
Other states in the joint fundraising committee with Oklahoma are Idaho, Massachusetts and Vermont. Idaho and Oklahoma are solid Republican states in presidential elections, while Massachusetts and Vermont are solid Democratic states.
According to the Oklahoma GOP’s most recent report to the Federal Election Commission, the state party received nearly $1.8 million in September from the joint fundraising committee; contributions to the committee came from all regions of the country.

Oklahoma GOP Gets $5 Million from Romney Fundraising Committee

Chris Casteel — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:59:04 +0000

A joint fundraising committee for Republican Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign transferred nearly $5 million to the Oklahoma Republican Party’s account on July 31, according to a report filed by the state party on Monday with the Federal Election Commission.
The $4.99 million came from donors around the country. The contributions were divided up among four state Republican Party organizations and other GOP committees.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks the flow of campaign money, joint fundraising committees have been formed by both presidential campaigns and political parties to allow people who have donated the legal limit directly to the candidates to give more money.
Joint committees for Romney have raised $140.3 million and committees for President Barack Obama have raised $255 million, according to the center.
The money transferred to the Oklahoma Republican Party apparently won’t stay in the state, where Romney is expected to win easily.
Chairman Matt Pinnell said Tuesday, “These financial resources will be sent to swing presidential states. We are honored to have been selected to be on this Committee, and looking forward to its positive impact this November.”

This is from an in invitation for a fundraiser featuring Ann Romney to be held in Virginia next month at the home of Robert Duvall. It breaks down the participants in Romney Victory Inc.

“Contributions to Romney Victory, Inc. (“RV”) are not tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. RV is a joint fundraising committee composed of Romney for President, Inc. (“RFP”), the Republican National Committee (“RNC”), the official Republican Parties in four states (the Idaho Republican Party, the Massachusetts Republican Party, the Oklahoma Leadership Council, and the Vermont Republican Federal Election Committee), the National Republican Senatorial Committee (“NRSC”), and the National Republican Congressional Committee (“NRCC”).