Inspired by the news that @Intel may have pledged to stop funding white nationalist congressman Steve King (though as far as I know, has not asked for their donation to be returned), let's take a deep dive into where Steve King gets his funding, courtesy of the FEC website
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King also got $5K from AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY PAC. The sugar lobby will pay any congressman with a pulse as long as he votes their way on sugar subsidies. Amusingly, even candidates who pledge not to take corporate PAC money can take it from American Crystal Sugar—a co-op
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Another major donor to Steve King is, regrettably,
@ATT. I wonder whether@ATTCares that they're funding an outspoken Nazi sympathizer to the tune of five large.pic.twitter.com/cId4XMRASR
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Rounding out the list of $5K corporate donors is
@ValeroEnergy, an oil company. After that comes a long list of donors who gave King the maximum allowed from an individual, $2,700. Tucked into that list is a familiar name.pic.twitter.com/TXh53sE4pT
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Down in the land of $2,500 donations we come across Citizens United Political Victory Fund, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the American Bankers Association,
@LandOLakesInc, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the hapless EGGPAC.pic.twitter.com/3ODP6XRVsE
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The intriguingly named EYE OF THE TIGER PAC is a leadership PAC associated with Steve Scalise, and when we pop that blister of course what squirts out is a stream of tech industry moneypic.twitter.com/NW54ghY7ih
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Going down further, we find more donations from BANKPAC, the sugar lobby, and the construction industry (which is King's day job). There's also a $2000 donation from
@TysonFoods,@intel, the American Optometric Association and a bunch of misguided podiatrists.pic.twitter.com/cCn78FQs83
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So if you're serious about de-funding Steve King, this is where it's most productive to start. I would focus especially on
@ATT and@LandOLakesInc — the latter is justifiably proud of having just chosen the first out gay woman as a Fortune 500 CEO. There's no need for Nazi butterShow this thread -
But the best way to de-fund Steve King is to kick him out of Congress! For the first time in years, King has a viable challenger in J.D. Scholten, who doesn't take corporate money and really hates Hitler—win/win! You can fund J.D. through the Great Slate:https://secure.actblue.com/donate/great_slate …
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Does this mean a company like Microsoft can effectively donate an unlimited amount to a single candidate by donating indirectly through separate PACs?
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Not an unlimited amount, and the rules around political action committees are complicated. But it can certainly be the case that more money arrives indirectly than by direct donation
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