Earlier this year, the Arizona legislature passed SB 1344 (.pdf) , which will remove jurisdiction and authority of the Clean Elections Commission (CCEC) to investigate and enforce campaign finance violations against candidates who run traditional using private financing.
This should be seen as a favor to Tom “banned for life by the SEC’ Horne in his ongoing campaign finance scandals, because that was the intent. It was also a favor to the Arizona Chamber of Commerce which wanted to remove its “dark money” campaign operations from the jurisdiction of the CCEC.
Until the new law goes into effect, the CCEC still has jurisdiction to investigate and enforce campaign finance violations. The Arizona Republic reports today, Tom Horne may be investigated by Arizona Clean Elections Commission:
The Arizona Clean Elections Commission will decide Thursday whether to investigate allegations that Attorney General Tom Horne used state resources for his re-election campaign. [Arizona’s Little Hatch Act.]
If the commission deems an investigation is merited and finds Horne guilty of the allegations, penalties could range from fines to removing Horne from the ballot or even from office.
Commission Executive Director Tom Collins on Tuesday issued a recommendation for an investigation, arguing that there is enough evidence to merit an inquiry. [Read the 44 page Recommendation Here (.pdf).]
In May, former Horne employee Sarah Beattie filed a complaint alleging that the Attorney General’s Office has doubled as a campaign office for Horne and that top staff worked on state time to raise money for Horne’s re-election, plan campaign events and strategize. State law bans politicking on state time.
Beattie . . . stated in her affidavit that she worked, on average, two hours a day on official state duties. The remainder of her time was dedicated to re-electing her boss, at the direction of Horne, his chief of staff and other high-level aides. she said.
* * *
Collins in his recommendation said Horne’s response to specific allegations left lingering questions that merit further investigation.
“There are sufficiently supported allegations to justify authorizing an inquiry,” Collins said.
A number of Horne’s employees also have positions with his campaign. Margaret Dugan, Horne’s chief of staff, doubles as his campaign manager. Vanessa Deatherage works in community outreach and is Horne’s deputy campaign manager.
Beattie’s complaint also alleged that Horne kept a white binder, deliberately mislabeled “BORDER PATROL,” that contained his fundraising activities, which occurred inside and outside of the office on state time. Beattie said Horne used the binder “daily” to solicit donations in his office, using his private cell phone.
* * *
The commission case is separate from any inquiry that may stem from a complaint Beattie also filed with the Secretary of State’s Office. That office has not yet determined whether there is sufficient evidence to refer the allegation to the Solicitor General.
Funny thing about that . . . the CCEC is also making a recommendation against Secretary of State Ken “Birther” Bennett’s request to turn public service announcements (PSAs) about voting in this year’s election into publicly funded publicity for his campaign for governor. The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports, Clean Elections director recommends commission reject Bennett TV ad request:
The executive director of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission urged the commission to reject a request from Secretary of State Ken Bennett, a candidate for governor, that he be allowed to appear in his office’s proposed voter education ads.
Tom Collins recommended that the commission reject Bennett’s request for a “no action” determination at its Thursday meeting. Such a determination would inoculate Bennett, who is using Clean Elections money to fund his campaign, against complaints from his opponents that he’s using the Secretary of State’s Office to boost his campaign. [That is exactly what he is doing.]
While the state’s plan for implementing the federal Help America Vote Act authorizes the Secretary of State’s Office to engage in voter education activities, there is no requirement that the secretary himself appear in ads, Collins wrote.
“Accordingly, I am not firmly convinced that the advertisements are not a contribution (to Bennett’s campaign),” Collins said.
Collins said the ads could be considered express advocacy for a candidate for office.
“In this case, at a minimum, the context includes a statewide election involving a clearly identified candidate featured in the advertisement asking voters for ‘help’ in solving a problem by casting their ballots during the precise period in which those voters can cast their ballots for that candidate, who is on the ballot,” Collins wrote.
So many corrupt Tea-Publican politicians, so little time to drain the swamp.
Update: Tom “banned for life by the SEC” Horne is endorsed by Arizona’s most corrupt politician, Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio. Arpaio endorses Horne. This guy should be radioactive by now.