Liz Mair's epic Scott Walker tweetstorm - Business Insider

By Colin Campbell

Colin Campbell is a politics reporter at Business Insider. Previously, he edited The New York Observer's "Politicker" blog and had his own site focused on Brooklyn politics

An aide to expected presidential candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) campaign operation resigned late Tuesday night just a day after her hiring was announced.

Liz Mair, who was a digital strategist for Walker, came under a storm of criticism for her advocacy of some relatively liberal policy positions and colorful tweets that critics said were insulting to Iowans.

"In other news, I see Iowa is once again embarrassing itself, and the GOP, this morning. Thanks, guys," Mair wrote of a January event hosted by conservative Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), according to the Associated Press. "The sooner we remove Iowa's front-running status, the better off American politics and policy will be."

Some conservatives were not pleased with the hiring of Mair. The chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, Jeff Kaufmann, called on Walker to dismiss Mair, and the right-leaning site Breitbart News ran a sharply critical story about her support for immigration "amnesty."

"Walker made another massive misstep on Monday, hiring Liz Mair," the Breitbart story read. "Mair's support for amnesty for illegal aliens ... is sure to dog Walker in Iowa, South Carolina, and other early presidential states."

After she left Walker's campaign, Mair fired off about 40 tweets that clarified her positions on issues like ethanol subsidies and reiterated her criticism of King. She insisted she was actually a big fan of Iowa but has questions about its status as the first state to weigh in on the presidential process. Mair also praised Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) using still more colorful language.

"I don't know everything about Branstad's record, but my general impression is that he's stayed true to himself and his beliefs while running. That takes some balls," she wrote. "And yes, this means I've just been tweeting about Terry Branstad's balls. There, something new to be offended about! I also think given the lack of prevalence of mustaches among candidates and elected officials, Branstad deserves some credit for keeping his."

Reached for comment, a strategist for Walker's Our American Revival political action committee told Business Insider that campaigns must have "absolute respect" for the voters.

"We accept those who have a variety of viewpoints on issues, but what we ultimately must have is absolute respect for people across the country," the strategist, Rick Wiley, said in a statement. "Our American Revival is an organization formed to promote bold reforms across the country and we're going to continue advocating for those ideals."

View Mair's full tweetstorm below:

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/author/colin-campbell#ixzz3UneNb9yo

(11) Contentious meeting as veterans seek rent... - Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Contentious meeting as veterans seek rent funding
By Bob Balgemann
Reporter

BELVIDERE - The relatively new Boone County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) has outgrown its quarters on Cadillac Court, and plans to move into four rooms on the second floor of the downtown PNC building.

As such, monthly rent is going from $300 to $1,049 and the VAC is asking county government to pick up that tab.

Greg Kelm, commander of VFW Post 1461 in Belvidere, made the request of the county's finance, salaries and taxation committee at its meeting Tuesday night. A unanimous vote to recommend approval of the expenditure was made and referred to the full county board for consideration March 18.

But that only came after disagreements and heated exchanges between Kelm and Karl Johnson, committee chairman.

The finance panel was under a time constraint because another standing committee of the county board, city-county, was scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. That gave finance an hour to conduct its business and Johnson wanted to keep the meeting moving along.

A goodly number of veterans accompanied Kelm and some of them took Johnson's insistence for order as an infringement on their right to freedom of speech. There was more than one interruption from the audience, which prompted committee Vice Chairman Paul Larson to observe, "Public comment is over. Audience, please be quiet."

There always is time for public comment, at the beginning of the meeting, and Tuesday night no one signed up to speak. But that didn't keep them from letting their views be known as the meeting progressed.

Kelm started by revisiting what happened at an earlier administration and legislative committee meeting on March 2, as well as at the county board's annual retreat on Jan. 26. Johnson interrupted him, saying the purpose of the March 10 meeting was "not to rehash old wounds. We're here to consider the request for additional funding."

Right now the VAC budget of about $283,000 a year comes from a small property tax increase approved by voters in 2013. The county board initially gave commission start-up money, until tax dollars began coming in during June 2014.

One of two new committee members, Sherry Giesecke, said the VAC had a balance of $105,000 after its first full year of operation. The increased rent, totaling $13,000 a year, "wouldn't put much of a dent in the $105,000," she said.

But Kelm said the VAC is getting busier as it strives to assist Boone County veterans in need. "We're finding more need," he said. He added that of every $1 spent, 65 cents is going to help veterans.

In addition, he said the VAC "desperately needs a van," which would cost $60,000-$80,000.

Gieseke pointed to the need for the VAC to turn in detailed reports of how it spends taxpayers' money, naming animal control services and the county health department as examples of county departments doing that. "You deserve the very best," she said. "But you need to be accountable for the money."

"You'd like a better report, you'll get a better report," Kelm replied.

A COUNTY RESPONSIBILITY

There was disagreement over whether the county is responsible for paying the VAC's office expenses, including rent.

County board member Cathy Ward, attending in an ex-officio capacity, said state statutes were clear that it is the county's responsibility. Johnson disagreed, saying statute "talks in a lot of circles."

The community ultimately voted to ask Boone County State's Attorney Michelle Courier to request clarification of that point from the state Attorney General's Office.

After the committee vote Kelm continued addressing the issue, which prompted Larson to invite him to say after the city-county coordinating committee meeting. "We can talk, if you want to," he said.

But Kelm countered, addressing the audience, "Thank you for coming and seeing what I've been putting up with since 2011."

Above is from BDR’s Facebook:  (11) Contentious meeting as veterans seek rent... - Belvidere Daily Republican

Schock will retain control over millions in campaign fund - News -

 

PEORIA — Though he’s stepping down from office, U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock will have the potential to remain a power player in GOP politics thanks to his campaign fund.

At the close of the last reporting period on Dec. 31, the Peoria Republican had more than $3 million in the various funds he controls, from his actual campaign account to his political action committees.

The majority of that, nearly $3.3 million, is in his official Schock for Congress campaign fund. Far smaller amounts adding up to about $60,000 are in his GOP Generation Y and Schock Victory Fund accounts.

It’s not clear how much Schock has spent since that Dec. 31 reporting period elapsed, or how much may be billed for services already conducted but not yet paid.

Lawmakers who retire or step down voluntarily can still access campaign funds for political activities — and in Schock’s case those dollars are also available for covering some of his legal fees in relation to the controversies that have embroiled him since the start of February.

That would enable Schock to, for example, donate to other political candidates — up to the limits allowed by federal law — or give to other causes.

It’s not uncommon for politicians at the state or federal level to do so. Locally, for example, retired state Sen. George Shadid maintained a campaign account after leaving the Legislature in 2006, parceling out small amounts in donations. Only late in 2013 did he decide to close out the account for good and donate what remained to Bradley University at the Institute for Principled Leadership and Public Service.

Others have held onto the cash and used it to attempt to mount political comebacks down the line, while still others have returned it proportionally to donors.

Still others, particularly those who plan retirements like Schock’s predecessor Rep. Ray LaHood, zero out their accounts. Records show that’s what LaHood, whose son Darin announced Wednesday he will seek the 18th District seat, did at the close of 2008.

Some of that money was spent in operation costs, but LaHood also made a hefty series of donations, including to his son’s campaign for state’s attorney, which received $60,000 from his father’s campaign account. The House Republicans’ campaign arm also received some $105,000 in what was labeled “excess campaign funds.”

If he chooses to continue the inquiry into any of his campaign spending and whether past reports need to be adjusted to account for some of the expenditures on trips or other matters that have come up in the last six weeks, he can continue to pay the individuals he hired with his campaign cash to work on that as well.

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