Julian Walker reports in the Virginian-Pilot of Speaker William Howell’s new PAC: The Commonwealth Transportation PAC. This PAC will complement Howell’s Dominion Leadership Trust PAC. Both PACs are designed to help caucus incumbents with their reelection campaigns, but the Commonwealth Transportation PAC is designed to specifically aid those 35 legislators who voted in favor of the largest tax-hike in Virginia history.
Segregating money for legislators who voted on a particular bill “creates division and dissension when we’re just trying to bring the caucus back together after a difficult session,” said one Republican legislator, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Hanover County Republican Del. Chris Peace rejects that idea, even though he voted against the road-funding bill. Peace doesn’t plan to give to the speaker’s new PAC but said he has no concerns about the intent of the separate fundraising account.
He said the focus should be on “helping those in the cause that are challenged to win re-election” so together they can advance a Republican agenda.
But other legislators in the caucus definitely don’t share Peace’s optimism. One legislator told BD that this green-lights money from business to go to those legislators who supported the transportation bill, putting those who did not at a disadvantage.
Of course, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to note that cash is liquid – so $100k spent from the transportation PAC on some GOP candidates frees up $100k for other candidates from the Dominion Leadership PAC.
Still, though, some in the caucus view this as the Speaker picking favorites within the caucus.
That said, the Speaker is sending several important messages:
1) He said he’d back up those that supported the bill back when the bill was being voted on. He’s a man of his word.
2) He’s willing to risk other caucus members feeling alienated because they didn’t support the bill
3) He’s a creative fundraiser.
However, I have to openly wonder if we ever will see a “Cut Spending PAC” created by the Speaker for those candidates who value limited government and fiscal responsibility?
