The Pennsylvania Capital-Star uncovers unusual and unprecedented coordination between Republican State House campaigns and a PAC controlled by Philadelphia-based billionaire Jeff Yass

HARRISBURG, PA – New reporting from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star has uncovered that some Republicans running for Pennsylvania’s State House have given “blanket authorizations” for Commonwealth Leaders Fund (CLF) — a PAC funded almost entirely by Philadelphia’s richest resident — to purchase and place ads on behalf of their campaigns.

Over the past several months, the Philadelphia-based billionaire Jeff Yass has poured millions of dollars into campaigns against Democrats representing rural PA State House districts, most notably in the Western portion of the Commonwealth.

Big political spending in Pennsylvania is not unusual, but the level of control and direct influence Jeff Yass has over several Republican State House campaigns is unprecedented. In some cases, candidates have given Yass’ CLF “blanket authorizations” to buy and place TV ads on their behalf, a practice labeled “unusual” by an elections lawyer who spoke with the Capital-Star. By doing so, these candidates have designated CLF as their authorized campaign committee for managing all transactions with TV stations related to purchasing airtime and placing ads for their campaigns.

State Representative Frank Burns (D-Cambria County) provided documentation for the Capital-Star’s reporting demonstrating how his opponent, Amy Bradley, signed over control of her TV ad spending and placement to CLF.

“It shows the shallowness of their candidates when they can’t even speak for themselves and the Commonwealth Leaders Fund makes every decision for them,” he told the Capital-Star. His opponent, who has received a whopping $472,000 from CLF, had nothing to say to the paper in defense of her campaign’s decision to sign over control to Jeff Yass.

Jeff Yass is on a mission to buy his own caucus that will do his bidding—and Republican State House candidates are jumping into his shopping cart by signing over control of their campaigns to his CLF PAC. Voters deserve elected leaders who work for them and their districts, not shills who are beholden to billionaires like Jeff Yass. Every Republican State House candidate should be asked whether they have signed blanket authorizations for Jeff Yass’ CLF to buy and place TV ads on behalf of their campaign.

###

About PA HDCC

The Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee is the official campaign arm of Pennsylvania House Democrats. PAHDCC supports the second-largest legislative chamber in the country by protecting incumbents and recruiting and training challengers to grow Democratic representation in Harrisburg.

Contact: Marshall Miller

Local Press Specialist

Phone: 717-951-0795

Email: Marshall@pahdcc.com

Contact: John D. Nichols

Press Director

Phone: 717-450-7150

Email: John@pahdcc.com