62°F
weather icon Clear

Clark County GOP complaint targets PAC seeking legislator recalls

The Clark County Republican Party filed a complaint Wednesday with Nevada election officials alleging illegal contributions by a GOP activist for a political action committee seeking to recall fellow Republicans who haven’t taken a firm stance against Gov. Brian Sandoval’s proposed tax package.

The complaint calls for an investigation into whether Tony Dane illegally funneled conduit contributions to the CRC PAC to aid recall efforts against some Republicans who conservative activists believe will raise taxes.

“These legislators were duly elected to serve their constituents … and they need to focus on performing that job and fighting for conservative causes, rather than defending themselves from attacks,” the county GOP said in a statement.

The complaint seeks an investigation by the secretary of state’s office to determine whether “conduit contributions” prohibited under law and without donor disclosure financed a mail campaign launched after Sandoval’s State of the State address Jan 15. Sandoval proposed $1.1 billion in new and extended taxes to help finance his education priorities.

Dane’s political activism has drawn criticism before, including robo-calls in 2010 that his political action committee paid for that attacked Ron Kent, then a candidate for the Nye County district attorney office.

The fliers targeted Assembly Speaker-designate John Hambrick and others who have drawn the ire of party conservatives led by activist Chuck Muth. The conservative GOP wing believes the Republican lawmakers might vote to approve Sandoval’s tax proposal.

A divide between conservatives and moderates in the Assembly will be a key in whether Sandoval can garner the two-thirds vote needed to pass his tax package.

Clark County Republicans said Sandoval’s proposals are a “starting point for important conversations about the future of Nevada.”

“We look forward to seeing the full proposal from the governor, which includes major education, PERS and collective bargaining reform, and what positions legislators will take on those and other issues,” Nick Phillips, political director for the Clark County Republican Party, said in a statement announcing the complaint.

Dane in previous media reports has said he controls CRC PAC and is its sole source of funds. A report filed with the secretary of state’s office shows Dane contributed $5,000, and his businesses, Dane &Associates, contributed $240,000.

“Campaign finance disclosure laws are in place to shed light into the sources of funding of efforts that impact our political process,” the Clark County GOP said. “We look forward to the secretary of state’s office performing an investigation into whether or not any statutes were violated.”

The PAC that has the goal of recalling Hambrick is a different organization called the Recall Hambrick PAC, with involvement from Muth and others.

Review-Journal writer Ben Botkin contributed to this report. Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
MORE STORIES
THE LATEST
Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire set to be extended beyond next week

The Israeli military said Wednesday its soldiers killed a terrorist in Gaza who it said posed a threat to its forces, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas stretched into a fourth day.

House OKs immigrant detention bill that would be Trump’s first to sign

Immigration policy has often been one of the most entrenched issues in Congress, but a crucial faction of politically vulnerable Democrats joined with Republicans to lift the strict proposal to passage on a 263-156 vote tally.

Henderson mayor accuses councilwoman of spreading affair rumors

Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox fired back Tuesday after attorneys for Henderson’s mayor sent Cox a cease and desist letter accusing Cox of “spreading rumors about a purported extra-marital affair.”

Evacuations ordered as new fast-moving fire threatens homes north of Los Angeles

Evacuations were ordered on Wednesday for remote communities near a huge and fast-moving wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles, as parched Southern California endured another round of dangerous winds ahead of possible rain over the weekend.

DOJ directs prosecutors to probe local efforts to obstruct immigration enforcement

The memo, from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, signals a sharp turnabout in priorities from President Joe Biden’s administration, with the DOJ’s civil division told to identify state and local laws and policies that “threaten to impede” the Trump administration’s immigration efforts and potentially challenge them in court.

 
Immigrant advocates rally against Trump policies in Las Vegas

Grassroots advocates derided President Donald Trump’s bevy of immigration-related executive orders and a bipartisan bill they say threaten marginalized communities.