David Moore
Money in politics: @Sludge.bsky.social // Get: @flaminghydra.com // https://www.davidrussellmoore.net // Signal: davidrussellmoore.52
- Trump’s EPA is siding with the chemical industry lobby on PFAS, against public health. Hopefully @westvirginiawatch.com can ask Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, chair of the Environment Committee, what she thinks of the move.
- In August, Seattle voters will decide on continuing to fund the source of support for the city's innovative "democracy vouchers" program. So, how has it worked since its debut in the 2017 cycle? A new book by Jen Heerwig and Brian McCabe finds gains in participation and representation. Interview:
- AG Pam Bondi was formerly a partner at the Trump-aligned lobbying firm Ballard Partners, which was hired a year ago by defense contractor L3Harris to lobby on business development. The company was recently tapped by the DoD to overhaul the Qatari luxury jet gift of a new Air Force One.
- [Not loaded yet]
- Indeed, a story from when Wiles was named, with more on her lobbying clients at Ballard Partners (and at Mercury):
- The New Democrat Coalition ( @newdems.bsky.social ) must be proud that their co-founder, former Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), heads the lobbying firm, Moran Global Strategies, that was paid millions last year by Qatar to lobby. A big moment for Qatar and New Dems, with the plane gift in the news.
- The DNC Credentials Committee passed a resolution vacating the elections of David Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta. I took a look at what the obscure panel does back in 2020, and how DNC leaders keep it stocked with at-large members they appoint as a bloc, including lobbyists and a U.S. Chamber executive:
- After some posts by @ericlipton.nytimes.com, media is again debating the definition of political "corruption" for riches. We've seen this flare up periodically. One thing to emphasize: many ex-Capitol Hill-ers have written tell-alls saying they clearly understand what they did to be quid pro quo.
- Covering money in politics since 2018, this question pops up (some may remember Beto that year), w/ hand-wringing. At Sludge, like many outlets, we strive for detailed clarity when we write that corruption is being alleged, charged, or convicted. There's also a not-small body of academic research:
- So we should be precise, but here's another part of the 2018 essay from former Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), now at Palantir. There are many good-government groups that have flagged the "party dues" system, for example. When experts say it's effectively corruption, we should heed them, pace Lipton.
- Politico New York reports that the pro-Cuomo super PAC will today report a $1 million donation from DoorDash. In recent years, as NYC passed pioneering minimum pay rules for app-based delivery workers, DoorDash decided to start giving money to housekeeping as it lobbied NYC government on the rules.
