Nevada Dems file election complaint against (Sen. cand. Sue) Lowden (Chickens for Healthcare)

[DRoseDARs]

Source: AP via Reno Gazette-Journal

OSKAR GARCIA • Associated Press Writer • May 18, 2010

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada Democrats say they have sent a complaint to the Federal Election Commission about U.S. Senate candidate Sue Lowden's campaign bus, accusing the Republican of accepting an excessive campaign contribution and not reporting it properly.

The Nevada Democratic Party said it sent the complaint Tuesday. An FEC spokeswoman said the complaint had not been received, but needed to be mailed.

The complaint centers around arrangements Lowden's campaign made for her to use the vehicle.

Lowden described the vehicle as a donation in an interview with a Reno television station.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.rgj.com/article/20100518/NEWS07/100518032

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The next and final two sentences of the article, literally two sentences not proper paragraphs, inform the reader that "Danny Tarkanian, one of her primary opponents" had accused her of breaking the campaign finance laws and the final sentence states her campaign claims to be paying a fair price to lease the vehicle. Right, like the residents of C-Street in DC are paying a "fair price" for their swanky DC digs.

Should have just taken the chickens, Sue...

[No Elephants]

1. Chickens coming home to roost, in more ways than one.

"Cocky" move, Lowden.

Too bad "playing chicken" with the FEC may not work out as well for you as it did for McCain Palin. (Yes, they lost the election, but escaped prosecution; and McCain-- yes the same McCain as co-sponsored McCain-Feingold--is still a sitting U.S. Senator--well, for another few months, anyway.)

I'm hoping for chicken stew this time, though.

[anachro1]

2. We should at least be fair to her

It's quite possible those excessive campaign contributions were made in the currency of chickens.

[rpannier]

3. She's using a bus???

Good Lord. I would have thought she'd have been using a covered wagon or horse-and-buggy

[LiberalFighter]

5. Doesn't Palin use a bus?

[rpannier]

7. But Palin doesn't want to pay her medical bills with chickens

Palin just wants to sneak into Canada to use the Socialist Health Care she opposes

[LiberalFighter]

4. Additional info from KOLO TV

Its use is officially listed as vehicle rental in four separate campaign contribution forms listed with FEC, from former Sparks casino owner Carl Giudici and his wife. The contributions are just within the $2400 dollar personal limit.

Lowden's campaign says it's paying fair market value for the bus when its on the road. There have been conflicting statements about any compensation when it's parked, though Tarkanian's people note, in that guise it's a big campaign billboard.

The vehicle's title lists Giudici and Lowden as co-owners, something her campaign says was done for insurance purposes and they point out the lease agreement surrenders the vehicle back to Giudici after the campaign is over.

The Democratic party's complaint says that misses the point, arguing the donation violates federal campaign laws covering "in-kind" contributions which by definition are held to the same $2400 limits as if it were cash.

How much is the monthly lease? How many months?

Are they saying the total contribution listed for this vehicle is below $2400 or $4800?

But but but Lowden is saying they are only paying fair market value when the bus is on the road. How many lease a vehicle and only have to pay when they drive it?

And then there is the issue of the paint job on the vehicle making it a roving or stationary billboard.

ON EDIT: I'm wondering if the same people involved in Matt Kelty's run for Mayor of Fort Wayne are involved in Lowden's campaign. Kelty tried to say that a loan is not a contribution when state law had it listed as a form of contribution. Maybe the great wizard lawyer James Bopp Jr is involved.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. How many Bushies still on the FEC, I wonder?

Or how many of same ilk have been appointed since last year.