The David Horowitz Freedom Center and Front Page Magazine have been tracking Hansjorg Wyss'( a Swedish citizen and leftist megadonor ) influence on British politics for a while. We tracked his progress earlier this year all the way to West Virginia. Foreigners can donate to 501( c )( 4 ) organizations but not directly to candidates; given the influence they have on elections, this amounts to roughly the same thing. The unusual C4 loophole is currently being discussed by some members of Congress. If such organizations accept foreign donations, Rep. Bryan Steil( R-Wis. ), chair of the House Administration Committee, is proposing legislation to forbid them from making contributions to political committees for four years. Additionally, he wants to prevent foreigners from contributing to state ballot initiatives.
Before a hearing his committee is holding today in Atlanta on election integrity, Steil told Axios that” British elections are for British citizens.” However, foreigners continue to try to sway British elections.
According to him, the American Confidence in Elections ( ACE ) Act will close the financial loopholes that foreigners are using to support super PACs or ballot initiatives. Wyss is the quick concern, but international donors from a number of nations can have an impact on our politics in that way. Traditional organizations are focusing on Wyss as a poster child for how powerful foreign billionaires can sway U.S. elections, claiming that he has invested$ 475 million in the country’s political system. They have and they can. Even 501( c )( 3 ) s are currently heavily involved in American politics, let alone C4s. For tax-exempt funds, your typical significant left nonprofit has a C3, and for more overt political involvement, it may also have PAC. Money is used for a variety of purposes, and it all has an impact on politics. Some states are taking action to stifle international currency on a state level. West Virginia is one for instance. However, a national ban is crucial because some left-leaning states won’t carry it out independently.
(Hansjorg Werss)Front Page Magazine, the David Horowitz Freedom Center, and others have been tracking the impact of Hansjorg Wiess, a Swiss national and leftist megadonor on American politics, for a long time. We tracked his influence to West Virginia earlier this year. While foreigners cannot directly donate to candidates they can give to 501(c),(4)s, and given the impact they have on elections that is pretty much the same. Bryan Steil, the chair of the House Administration Committee in Wisconsin, has introduced legislation that would ban foreign-funded groups from making contributions to political committees. He also wants foreigners to be banned from contributing to state ballot initiatives.
Steil told Axios that “American elections are for American Citizens” ahead of an hearing on election integrity his committee will hold in Atlanta today. “Yet, foreign nationals find ways to influence American election.”
They can and have. At this point, even 501(c),3s are heavily involved in U.S. Politics. You’ll find that most major lefty organizations have a C3, which is for tax-exempt money, and a more direct political involvement C4, and possibly a PAC. All the money ends up in politics. Some states are taking steps to block foreign money at a state level. West Virginia is a good example. But a federal prohibition is important, because some lefty state won’t do this on their own.
