Elections

Two Wisconsin GOP reps. introduce ‘OMAR Act’ to combat ‘laundering’ campaign funds to spouses

Published

10 months ago

February 5, 2021

Staff Writer

Two Republican congressmen from Wisconsin on Friday introduced legislation that would bar candidates from office for “laundering” their campaign funds to enrich their spouses called the Oversight for Members And Relatives Act or “OMAR Act.”

The bill’s acronym references Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar (D), who, according to a Fox News report in November, hired the political consulting firm of her husband, Tim Mynnett, during the most recent election cycle and paid it about $2.8 million.

In a press release emailed by Rep. Tom Tiffany’s (R-Wis.) office, Tiffany was quoted as saying: “For too long, lawmakers of both political parties have engaged in the ethically dubious practice of pocketing campaign funds by ‘hiring’ their spouses and laundering the money as campaign related expenses.”

In that same press release, the other U.S. representative who helped introduce the bill, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), said “[l]oopholes that allow members of Congress to funnel campaign funds to their spouses are despicable and erode trust in our government,” adding that “[t]here’s simply no logical reason for allowing this practice to continue, and I’m proud to join Rep. Tiffany in this common-sense effort to ensure members can’t profit off running for Congress.”

The bill, according to the press release, is based on a bipartisan proposal introduced in the 110th Congress by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), with the release saying that Schiff’s proposal was endorsed at that time by members of the current House Democrat leadership team.

“Regardless of political party, we should all be able to agree that running for political office shouldn’t be part of a family enrichment scheme,” Tiffany also said. “Passing the OMAR Act will help restore public confidence in Congress and stop politicians from effectively pocketing their campaign funds.”

Back in December, SaraACarter.com also reported that the firm co-owned by Mynnett, “E Street Group,” received nearly $135,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and $500,000 in Economic Injury Disaster loans, according to public records.

The introduction of the OMAR Act comes as Republicans in Congress are pushing again for removing the progressive representative from her committees after a majority of the Democrat-controlled House voted Thursday to strip GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) of her committee assignments.

Greene in the past had expressed support for and promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory as well as supporting violence against Democratic lawmakers, among other incendiary statements. Prior to Thursday’s vote, Greene said she regretted those statements but did not apologize.

Back in 2019, Republicans called for Omar to be stripped of her committee assignments after making a number of antisemitic statements. While the GOP effort failed, the House at the time did successfully pass a resolution condemning “anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of bigotry,” though without mentioning Omar by name.

You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @Douglas_P_Braff.

Elections

Biden’s Poor Polling and Harris’ Low Electability Rating Could Have Democrats Considering ‘Nuclear Option’

Behind-the-scenes discussion of how Democrats could arrive at a third option for the next election is underway

Published

3 days ago

December 1, 2021

Staff Writer

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

With polls consistently showing a poor approval rating for President Joe Biden at below 40 percent, and a recent poll put Kamala Harris’ electability at only 28 percent, Democrats are in full panic mode.

“Behind-the-scenes discussion of how Democrats could arrive at a third option for the next election is underway. Operatives are preparing for the possibility of a contested presidential primary in which other would-be nominees take on Ms. Harris, but that could be damaging for the party” reports the Telegraph.

Therefore, Democrats are allegedly whispering about a potential “nuclear option” that would call for current Vice President Harris to be nominated to the Supreme Court. The Telegraph writes that “while the scenario is highly improbable, and perhaps a reflection of a Washington rumor mill in overdrive, the fact it has come up at all shows the depths of the predicament the Biden administration currently finds itself in, amid rising inflation, a stalled domestic agenda, and foreign policy disasters.”

The theory in question would call for President Biden to nominate Harris to the Supreme Court in the event a seat opens in the next three years during his administration. Biden could then use “Section 2 of the 25thAmendment to nominate a more popular vice president”, adds the Telegraph.

Under Section 1 of the 25th Amendment, that new vice president could assume the presidency if Biden were to step down while president. They would then become the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election. That same individual could also be the presumptive Democratic nominee in 2024 if Biden chooses not to run for re-election.

One piece of information that is wetting Democrats’ whistle is that current Supreme Court Justice Breyer has said he does not “want to stay on the Supreme Court until I die.”

The Telegraph notes that “the discussion over potential successors to Mr. Biden is highly unusual less than a year into an administration.”