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Londrigan finds a loophole

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Illinois

* Mark Maxwell at WCIA…

“I refuse to be beholden to Big Pharma, insurance, or any corporation for that matter,” [Democratic congressional candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan] wrote in a June 2019 op-ed in the State Journal-Register. “That’s why I am proud to announce that I won’t be taking corporate PAC money in this campaign or in Congress. Refusing corporate PAC money is an important step toward fighting the corruption in Washington,” she wrote.

The pledge provided her a chance to distinguish herself from a four-term Republican incumbent [Rodney Davis] who has raised $792,100 from corporate PACs so far this cycle, and $3.4 million total since he first took office in 2013. […]

Since launching her bid for Congress, Dirksen Londrigan has accepted at least $82,930 in campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists, including some who have represented pharmaceutical companies, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, gambling companies, red light camera companies, suburban municipal governments, telecommunications giant AT&T and utility company ComEd. […]

Corporate lobbyist Amy Souders, who lobbies for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, hosted a December fundraiser for Dirksen Londrigan, and solicited contributions for her campaign through the online Democratic fundraising conduit ‘Act Blue.’

Platinum Advisors DC, a corporate lobbying firm with clients like pharmaceutical company Allergan, AT&T, and pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark, hosted a Washington, D.C., fundraiser for Dirksen Londrigan in June. Campaign finance reports show that one of the event hosts, Mona Mohib, works for McGuire Woods Consulting, LLC, a corporate lobbying firm founded by Dirsken Londrigan’s husband, Tom Londrigan.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:33 pm

Comments

Let’s see what kind of spin Bernie puts on that one….

Comment by Wylie Coyote Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:39 pm
She said she wouldn’t accept corporate PAC money. None of the contributors mentioned is a PAC. What loophole is she supposedly using to accept corporate PAC money?

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:45 pm
Yeah ok. Splitting hairs. Let me know when the pharmaceutical industry starts running ads for Londrigan like they are for Davis.

Comment by wut Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:46 pm
This is a huge deal. This is the type of stuff that sways an election…

…

I mean outside a global pandemic, rampant unemployment, masks vs. masks…

After… a global pandemic, unemployment, the politicizing of masks or no masks, *this* will make or break this whole race.

So if Rodney can get this global pandemic’s response from POTUS all square *and* get the “Trump Economy” roaring with unemployment far better, and schools are open, and sports have fans, and people can eat inside a restaurant, drink in a bar, go see a movie…

(Sigh)

Is it interesting? Yes.

Am I grateful Rich has this post? Absolutely. We need to know phony loopholes and hypocrisy, even where someone’s word is to matching actions. Yep. We need this, Rich is awesome for keeping us all in the loop.

I dunno if it’ll get through however to the undecideds effectively.

We’ll see

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:49 pm
This is reaching….. how can you compare this to an actual rep who has taken pharma money and then votes against lowering drug costs

Comment by Gohawks123 Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:52 pm
C’mon people. You think she is the first to employ this tactic? I doubt it very much. Long before there were PACS pols raised money in this fashion.

Comment by H L Mencken Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:55 pm
Cozy, indeed. Why would a big pharma lobbyist back Betsy if they really thought she’d vote against their interests? Or maybe they’re just trying to soften her up. Interesting story.

Comment by Sensitive Nancy Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 2:56 pm
Of course the corporate pharma lobbyist Souders is married to Durbin’s chief of staff, Pat Souders … cozy club out there in DC

Comment by Downstate Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 3:00 pm
“Next, you need a cash business. Something pleasant and joyful with books that are easily manipulated. No credit card receipts, etcetera. You mix the five million with the cash from the joyful business. That mixture goes from an American bank to a bank from any country that doesn’t have to listen to the IRS. It then goes into a standard checking account and voila. … Your money’s clean. It’s as legitimate as anybody else’s.“

Comment by fs Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 3:18 pm
This whole thing seems nuts to me. The Davis folks are trying to hit her on how she *might* vote because she’s taken a few bucks from some her husband’s lobbyist pals…when Davis *has* already voted in pharm.’s favor. They’re literally arguing that she’s a hypocrite while ignoring that this argument makes him one too.

Comment by SWIL Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 3:19 pm
Londrigan’s husband did not found McGuireWoods. It’s been around a long time in several states. Just sayin.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 3:25 pm
All this dirt is going to turn into mud if you Betsy backers don’t stop crying and Betsy could get bogged down in that mud.

Comment by The Old Man Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 4:06 pm
With the kids not being on campus, she’s gonna get crushed despite Davis being a trump-loving phony. DCCC will have to bring back Dr. Gill

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Friday, Jul 24, 20 @ 4:29 pm