Jolt
John Koster's Troubles with the Federal Government
The big news on Koster, of course, is that he's being scolded by the media for avoiding a debate with 2nd district opponent and Democratic incumbent Rick Larsen. (Honestly, that probably helps him with his base.)
But Koster also has a real dog barking up his tree. It's the federal government. They say Koster has been accepting illegal corporate campaign contributions. The Federal Election Commission wrote Koster an angry letter back in September, demanding he return all the campaign contributions he received from corporations during the July expenditure reporting period. (Corporations are prohibited from giving money directly to federal political campaigns).
In the Sept. 7 letter, the FEC lists 24 corporations, from Arlington Chiropractic Center at $200 to Crown Distributing Co. LLC at $2,400. The FEC says Koster will have to return some of these contributions unless he can prove, for example, that the "LLC" is not also incorporated. The letter notes that he received illegal donations in April, May, and June totaling $11,292.92 in "prohibited or excessive" campaign contributions, and says Koster's campaign needed to respond by refunding the money or, if possible, changing the way the contributions were filed, by October 12.
This quarter's reports have just been filed, and we checked them today to see if he'd returned the money. Nope. In fact, it looks to us as if Koster is still taking contributions from corporations. Silvergate Farms LLC, Quantum Construction Inc, and Boyden Robinett Association all sound like contributors that are sure to raise flags with the FEC.
The Larsen campaign told PubliCola: "It's unacceptable that for two consecutive reporting periods, John Koster has accepted illegal corporate money."
Maybe Koster's confused about the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizen's United ruling, which allows unlimited corporate contributions to political allies with non-profit front groups. Sorry: Corporations still aren't allowed to donate directly to candidates under any circumstances.
Koster's campaign didn't return our call.
But Koster also has a real dog barking up his tree. It's the federal government. They say Koster has been accepting illegal corporate campaign contributions. The Federal Election Commission wrote Koster an angry letter back in September, demanding he return all the campaign contributions he received from corporations during the July expenditure reporting period. (Corporations are prohibited from giving money directly to federal political campaigns).
In the Sept. 7 letter, the FEC lists 24 corporations, from Arlington Chiropractic Center at $200 to Crown Distributing Co. LLC at $2,400. The FEC says Koster will have to return some of these contributions unless he can prove, for example, that the "LLC" is not also incorporated. The letter notes that he received illegal donations in April, May, and June totaling $11,292.92 in "prohibited or excessive" campaign contributions, and says Koster's campaign needed to respond by refunding the money or, if possible, changing the way the contributions were filed, by October 12.
This quarter's reports have just been filed, and we checked them today to see if he'd returned the money. Nope. In fact, it looks to us as if Koster is still taking contributions from corporations. Silvergate Farms LLC, Quantum Construction Inc, and Boyden Robinett Association all sound like contributors that are sure to raise flags with the FEC.
The Larsen campaign told PubliCola: "It's unacceptable that for two consecutive reporting periods, John Koster has accepted illegal corporate money."
Maybe Koster's confused about the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizen's United ruling, which allows unlimited corporate contributions to political allies with non-profit front groups. Sorry: Corporations still aren't allowed to donate directly to candidates under any circumstances.
Koster's campaign didn't return our call.
