Business Insider: U.S. Congresswoman Victoria Spartz found to have violated the STOCK Act
ICYMI: Democrats demand information on Messmer straw donor
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today called out U.S. Congresswoman Victoria Spartz and State Senator Mark Messmer for putting their self-serving interests ahead of state and federal laws. In the span of one week, these Indiana Republicans were caught violating transparency regulations within the STOCK Act (Spartz) and accepting contributions connected to illegal campaign fundraising schemes (Messmer). Both examples of impropriety go against Hoosier values, and their actions continue to describe the Indiana Republican Party as an organization which puts self-serving politicians ahead of creating a better future for Hoosier families.
“Just when you’d think Indiana Republicans couldn’t set the bar any lower, they find a new way to prove to voters that their agenda rests solely on putting their personal futures ahead of creating better opportunity for Indiana and its families,” said Drew Anderson, communications director for the Indiana Democratic Party. “So here’s what the 2022 elections look like: Indiana Democrats have a record of delivering broadband, teacher pay, fully-funded public schools, and COVID-19 relief via the American Rescue Plan while Republicans’ double down on unnecessary culture wars, saying ‘NO’ to COVID-19 relief, and turning a blind eye to state and federal laws.”
Indiana Republicans carry a record that’s done nothing but discard Hoosier values and divide communities across the state. Republicans like Jim Banks, Greg Pence, and Jackie Walorski all voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Every single Indiana Republican in the state’s Congressional delegation voted “NO” on the American Rescue Plan. After passing a vaccine mandate for colleges and universities in 2017, Republicans like Todd Rokita, Eric Holcomb, and Mike Braun all criticized President Biden’s updated strategy against COVID-19. Further, Republicans created an “F” workforce and a “D+” ranked state education system. And last but not least, Todd Young flip-flopped on both infrastructure and his criticism of Trump supporters within the INGOP. Republicans are a party without an identity or agenda, and it’s harming Indiana’s future.
Here are key points from both stories:
Business Insider: “Four more Republican members of Congress appear to have improperly disclosed personal stock transactions in violation of a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law, according to an Insider review of congressional records.” […]
“Rep. Victoria Spartz, a Republican of Indiana
In her most recent financial filing, Spartz disclosed purchasing between $15,001 and $50,000 worth of stock in the commercial real-estate firm Simon Property Group Inc. The report doesn’t specify the owner of the shopping-mall-centric buy, indicating only that the trade is associated with a tax-advantaged Roth IRA.
Spartz reported the “notification date” of this stock trade — the date on which she became aware of it — as August 13. But she didn’t publicly disclose the trade until September 27, two weeks later than a 30-day federal deadline for reporting such trades.”
IndyStar: “The alleged schemes involving Waltz’s campaign and the Indianapolis Republican committee are not the only ones to surface over the past year.
IndyStar reported last month that another former Centaur casino executive, Kyle Waggoner, quietly pleaded guilty earlier this year in Marion Superior Court to making an illegal campaign contribution in 2018.
In that case, prosecutors struck a plea deal with Waggoner that resulted in no prison time. They have also declined to disclose even basic details about the case, including how much money Waggoner illegally contributed or who received the money.” […]
“An IndyStar investigation, however, found that Waggoner appears to have contributed at least $5,000 through a close friend to Sen. Mark Messmer, a powerful Republican lawmaker who carried legislation beneficial to Ratcliff, who was Waggoner’s boss at the time of the contribution, and a new company he was creating called Spectacle Entertainment.”
ICYMI: Democrats demand information on Messmer straw donor
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