Senate Democrats will force net neutrality vote on Wednesday

Senate Democrats on Wednesday will override Republican leaders and force a vote to begin debate on a bill to restore net neutrality regulations that were eliminated by the Federal Communications Commission.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., plans to call up a vote Wednesday that would launch a ten-hour debate on a Congressional Review Act that would undo the recent FCC move.

It’s expected to pass. A 50-vote majority is needed to begin debate on the CRA measure. A second 50-vote majority is needed to pass it.

Democrats can make the move despite being in the minority because they secured 50 votes on a discharge petition, a procedural maneuver that can overrule the majority.

So far, all 49 Democrats support the measure along with Sen. Susan Collins, of Maine, who is a Republican. Other Republicans are considering voting for the measure, but only 50 votes are needed to pass it given the absence of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

“By passing my CRA resolution to put net neutrality back on the books, we can send a clear message to American families that we support them, not the special interest agenda of President Trump and his broadband baron allies,” said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., the sponsor of the measure. “May 16 will be the most important vote for the Internet in the history of the Senate, and I call on my Republican colleagues to join this movement and stand on the right side of digital history.”

Democrats believe the FCC move took away protections that would prevent Internet companies from hurting consumers with policies that favor large Internet providers.

But opponents of net neutrality said the policies aren’t needed and will stifle innovation.

While the bill is expected to pass in the Senate, it's likely to stall in the House, where leaders have no intention of calling it up, and only about two dozen Repbulicans support it.

https:// www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/senate-democrats-will-force-net-neutrality-vote-on-wednesday

Clinton Sent $150K in Campaign Cash to LLC Managing Book, Speaking Income

Payments from Hillary for America to ZFS Holdings LLC, Clinton's Delaware-based entity, are marked as 'rent' and began last May

Hillary Clinton has sent $150,000 in leftover funds from her presidential campaign committee to a limited liability company that was established to manage her book and speaking income, filings show.

Campaign has pushed $149,456.78 to ZFS Holdings since early May of last year

'The only disbursements allowed for the Clinton or any other losing campaign are for winding down the campaign'

Clinton registered ZFS Holdings LLC, a Delaware-based LLC, on Feb. 8, 2013, just days after leaving the State Department, records filed with the Delaware Division of Corporations show. Later, in April 2014, paperwork was filed with New York State's Department of State.

Clinton registered ZFS Holdings LLC, a Delaware-based LLC, on Feb. 8, 2013, just days after leaving the State Department, records filed with the Delaware Division of Corporations show. Later, in April 2014, paperwork was filed with New York State's Department of State.

The agent's address, which is used by more than 285,000 companies, including Trump business entities, is known as an epicenter of U.S. corporate secrecy.

Clinton's LLC was established to manage her income, a spokesperson acknowledged during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The first transaction from the committee to ZFS was made on May 4, 2017 in the amount of $32,929.28, nearly six months after Trump had defeated Clinton. Each payment from the committee to ZFS was marked as "rent."

Seven additional payments were made ranging from $9,617.87 to $36,369.39. The most recent payment to ZFS, for $20,822.92, was made on March 15, filings show.

Once a campaign has concluded, politicians are not required to shut down their committees and can keep them running indefinitely, as the Center for Responsive Politics notes of unused campaign cash.

"Sometimes they do this to pay off campaign debt, or, to keep their war chest full if they were to ever seek office again," they write. "After paying down any debts, money is often spent to ‘wind down' the committee and pay off any office expenses."

"For those who still have cash on hand, the FEC sets guidelines regarding how candidates’ committees may spend campaign funds," they continue. "Other than the prohibition on personal use, there are few limitations. Punishments for violating the prohibition on personal use range from substantial fines to possible prison time."

Former politicians and candidates may use unused funds for the likes of donating money to a recognized charity, contributing to the campaign committees of other politicians, giving to a federal, state, or local party activity, or disbursements for winding down costs.

"Personal use is illegal under federal campaign finance law," Mitchell said. "There are a number of questions that need to be answered to ensure that the campaign is using leftover campaign funds for a legally, permissible purpose."

The rent payments were directed to Clinton's LLC despite the campaign making no such payments—or any other payments—to the entity throughout the entirety of the 2016 election cycle, according to filings.

Clinton has also sent hundreds of thousands in leftover campaign cash to her "resistance" group, Onward Together, which was formed in May 2017.

Clinton's campaign made an $800,000 contribution to the group in early May of last year. The donation occurred on May 1, 2017: three days before the "rent" payments were first disbursed to ZFS Holdings.

http:// freebeacon.com/politics/clinton-sent-150k-campaign-cash-llc-managing-book-speaking-income/