ON THE HILL
News from the Louisiana delegation in the nation’s capital
Sunday, August 22, 2004
By Bruce Alpert and Bill Walsh
Group goes to bat for Vitter
From Our Advertiser
A business-backed, Republican-leaning group on Friday began running television ads throughout Louisiana touting Rep. David Vitter’s record in the House. Vitter, R-Metairie, a candidate for U.S. Senate, said he knew nothing about the 30-second ads paid for by Americans for Job Security. By law, nonprofits can’t coordinate with a political campaign. The law also shields the group from public scrutiny. It doesn’t have to disclose the names of its donors, and it doesn’t. Its president, Michael Dubke, would say only that donors are small business interests that promote tax relief. Published reports have said the group has received money from the pharmaceutical and insurance industries. Americans for Job Security is also running ads boosting Republican candidates in South Carolina, North Carolina, Alaska, Oklahoma and Colorado. Our theory is that there are enough Gucci-shoed lobbyists on Capitol Hill, Dubke said. We are going to do our lobbying in states where the politicians and the media are paying attention.
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A spokesman for Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley, a Vitter rival for the Senate seat, denounced the ads. This is David Vitter getting hundreds of thousands of dollars, unchecked, from out-of-state corporate interests, said Zac Wright, John’s campaign spokesman.
Chris complains about “out of state” money-hahahahahha
